ivoSF
Member
From: The Netherlands
Registered: 2005-11-29
Posts: 144
both the emperor and chief kanji use the " white" kanji as a primitive, does the collor white signify some sort of status?
Ramchip
Member
From: Canada
Registered: 2006-09-22
Posts: 108
kanjinetworks.com :
雄 (12) ユウ;お;おす SIS of 厷
SIS of 厷 combines a hand and a bending line representing an elbow. 雄 is 厷 (Type 1 Phonetic) (extension) + 隹 short, squat bird → male bird spreading its wings to display authority → male; strong; brave; manly.
雌 (14) シ;め;めす
As per 此 (Type 1 Phonetic) (irregular) + 隹 short, squat bird → feathers spread irregularly over the rear end of a female bird.
皇 (9) コウ;オウ
王 (Type 1 Phonetic) king + an abbreviated form of 自 self, functioning as described in 皆 (the nose being the first part that appears in normal childbirth; here, suggesting "founder") → founder of an imperial dynasty → emperor.
伯 (7) ハク
人 person + 白 (Type 6 Phonetic) for the sound alone to simulate a monosyllabic term of address children would direct toward an older person of the approximate age of one's father → respected elder male → eldest brother; count; earl.
Last edited by Ramchip (2007 December 11, 10:22 am)
Dragg
Member
From: Sacramento, California
Registered: 2007-09-21
Posts: 369
I found an interesting article about the connotations of "white" in Japanese culture:
"White indeed imparts a pure image. Underlying this pureness, however, is strong determination to reject any light. While black absorbs the sunlight, white reflects it. White is a bright color, sometimes glaring, and dazzling our eyes. If you think of Japanese terms that contain "haku" or "shiro" (both mean white), you will easily understand the strong power and toughness that characterize white."
Therefore, in addition to any phonetic trait of the radical, perhaps "white" also contributes a sense of tenacity and purity to the two kanji you asked about.
Full article is here: http://www.hiroshima-gas.co.jp/english/color/color7.htm
