Japanese Element Symbols | Kanji symbols

This is a featured page introduction before engaging in battle armies would shout and cry out and when running in to fight they would scream out in a continuous flow of energy putting fear into their enemy.

Beginning students of karate, judo, and kendo can be made to shout with the delivery of techniques as a means of learning proper breathing and mental focus.

Stencil for tattoo: The shout of spirit.pdf

This weapon known as "Kiai" is the Japanese term for expelling sound of various types to have an effect on oneself and the attacker.

気合[Kiai] is a compound of 気[Ki], meaning internal energy, will, turn of mind, spirit and "合[ai]" meaning unite.
The technique used to convey this power is the human voice.

Use of Kiai

In learning to use Kiai correctly you gain control over your respiratory, nervous, and muscular systems and can increase your Ki supply.

To create the most effective kiai shout, use a low, open throated vowel sound, and avoid high-pitched shrieks or squealing noises.

Effects of Kiai on the attacker

The kiai used in a self-defence situation helps to confuse the senses so the attacker cannot concentrate, and be forced to decide whether to proceed or flee.
The kiai has the effect of breaking down this mind and body co-ordination, momentarily changing an opponent thought pattern and rapidly sapping confidence from him.
Kiai exploits this natural phenomenon of human physiology causing a rapid beating of the heart and a momentary break in his breathing rhythm.
This slight break is caused by the shock acting on the auditory nerve, which connects the ear to the brain, seizing the attackers reaction time for a moment.
In this way, kiai affects the central nervous system, respiratory and muscular systems temporarily freezing an attacker's thoughts and actions.
We can only attack strongly when exhaling.
Our instinctive reflexive reaction when startled is to inhale.

Types Of Kiai

The attacking shout

The attacking kiai shout is a fierce explosive noise that causes the adversary to drop his concentration momentarily.
Grounded from the lower abdomen, the shout resonates through the "body to startle, terrify" and over whelm the enemy.
Though there are no specific words associated with the attacking shout, a low, drawn-out, almost growling "ehy!" sound is typical for native speakers of Japanese.

Pronunciation: otakeb.

Stencil for tattoo: The attacking shout.pdf

 

 

 

 

The reacting shout

The reacting kiai shout is a heavy, intense noise that creates a sense of disappointment in the enemy as his tactics are thwarted.
From the tightened midsection, the shout hisses up through the body to accompany the mental charge upon discovering the enemy's hidden weapon, or successfully avoiding his attack The hollow sounding exhalation usually takes a "toh!" form with Japanese speaking practitioners.

Pronunciation: kakusei

Stencil for tattoo: The reacting shout.pdf

 

Stencil for tattoo: The victorious sound.pdf

The victorious sound

The victorious shout is a boisterous, triumphant noise that celebrates the overpowering of the enemy.
The ringing shouts come from the solar plexus with the exuberance of a laugh, to discourage and bewilder the adversary after a series of blows have been dealt "Yah!" or "yoh!" sounds are natural for Japanese speakers, although the sounds have no word meanings.

Pronunciation: kanko

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shadow shout

Stencil for tattoo: The shadow shout.pdf

The fourth shout, or "shadow kiai!" is not necessarily a vocal shout at all, but rather a total plunging of the body, mind, and feelings into the destiny of the fight If any sound at all were emitted, it might take a "uhmm" sort of quality as this kiai form takes over the ninja's fighting presence by spontaneously blending the characteristics of the attacking, reacting, and victorious kiai shouts in the martial artist consciousness.

This is the highest level of "Involvement Attackers" are used at the crucial moment before a defense is needed, so that the attack is in reality a protection.

The harmony with the universal force implied in the concept of kiai is in no way limited to the body of each individual alone.
It is the feeling that our intentions project when we are determined to destroy someone else.
Animals as well as humans project this 殺気[sakki] as a natural part of their determination to overtake another being.

Pronunciation: sakki

 

 

Finally, I quoted these sentences on the following two website pages.
Both are very good pages.
If you are interested about KIAI, I recommend you to read these web pages.

 

• KIAI
• Kiai - Aussie Jujitsu

 

 

By Hararie

 

 

Two kinds of words that show the moon name are in Japan.

The one is "Old Style (or O.S.)" and  the other is "New Style (or N.S.)."
"Old Style (or the old [lunar] calendar)" is called "新暦[shin-reki] or 太陽暦[taiyou-reki]" in Japan.

"New Style (or the solar [Gregorian] calendar)" is called "旧暦[kyuu-reki] or 陰暦[in-reki]" in Japan.

"新暦or 太陽暦(New Style)" is chiefly used in Japanese calendar.

In Japan, the solar calendar has been used until December 2, 1872.

After Meiji-Ishin, Japanese Government changed bureaucrats'"Reward once a year" into the salary system.

But, June existed twice in this fiscal year.
Japanese Government has the obligation to pay bureaucrats the salary of 13 times a year.
So, Japanese Government changed "Style of the calendar" suddenly.
It is because Japanese Government did not want to pay bureaucrats the salary of 13 times.

The old calendar is used in the fortune-telling and the traditional event etc. in present Japan.
In a word, the reason why Japanese calendar changed was "Salary payment refusal at the moment" of Japanese Government.
Such "Selfishness of Japanese Government" is still continued.

Then, I show you these kanji today.

Old calendar and lunar calendar in kanji.

English	Japan's solar calendar	Japan's old calendar
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Some Considerations on the Origin of the Names of the Months by Lunar Calendar.

<January; 睦月[mutsuki]>:
Mutsuki is a chinese letter for "moon" which represent the shape of crescent.
There are two alternate expressions. The first one means "right month".
I don't know why it is "right", probably the right beginning of a year.
The second one means "month of enjoying".
In new year days members of family come together and enjoy.

<February; 如月[kisaragi]>:
There are three alternate expressions.
Pronunciations are all same.
I do not know the meaning of the first alternate but most used.
Directly translating it means "like as moon."
The second one means "wear dresses over and over."
In this cold season, this meaning is easy to understand but it is incorrect origin.
In luna calendar, 2 correspond to March (nearly) and it is getting warm.
The third one is the right one.
It means "plants grows again."
The bird is "uguisu" a kind of nightingale who sing "ho-hokekyoh"
The third one is the right one.
It means "plants grows again."
The bird is "uguisu" a kind of nightingale who sing "ho-hokekyoh."

うぐいす[Bush warbler] that is Bird of spring of Japan.

<March; 弥生[yayoi]>:
The second alternate is another expression using phonogram called "Hiragana" (see the page of Japanese Letters.) and favored because of its soft appearance.
The meaning is "grow more and more" corresponding to the grow of plants in spring.
The letters in alternative expression are in the style of brush pen writing.

<April; 卯月[uduki]>:
By luna calendar used in older days, 4 was early summer and the blossoms of deutzia called "u" was thought as the symbol of April.
"gatsu" and "zuki" are pronunciations for .
There are two more pronunciations, "getsu" and "tsuki".

<May; 皐月[satsuki]>:
Satsuki is the chinese letter for "five."
The pronunciation should be "go-gatsu" but "satsuki" was borrowed from other alternatives. Ordinary japanese can not write down the letter .
The meaning is something like vivid.
Japanese recall refreshy weather with clear sky and cool breeze from the sound of "satsuki."
The last one is probably a simplified shape of second one. The direct translation is "fast month."

<June; 水無月[minaduki]>:
Direct translation is "no water month".
June is the most rainy season in the year.
In my boyhood, I was taught as follows.
Now that water is this much on earth, there would be no water in the heaven.
It is the origin of the name and I believed it until today.
But it seems incorrect consulting with some materials.
By luna calendar, rainy season is over in 6 and water is scarce when rice plants need water.

<July; 文月[fumiduki]>:
Direct translation is "literature month" or "letter" month.
There are two explanations for it.
One is that on seventh of this month Star Festival is held and people write letters of wish to the god, therefore this month is "letter month". Another one: In this month by luna calendar, night is getting long after mid-summer and there is a lot of time to read literatures, so this month is "literature month".

<August; 葉月[hadiki]>:
The meaning is "leaves month."
There are two explanations.
One is: By luna calendar, this is the month whe leaves of trees begin coloring and falling. Another is: it means the leaves of katsura which grows on the moon in this month of Moon Viewing.
August is the hottest season and whole of this month is school vacation.
Most of companies have summer vacation of more than one week in this month.

<September; 長月[nagaduki]>:
The direct translation is "long moon" in September by luna calendar, the length of night time is felt long and moon is seen long time.
Chrysanthemum is one of the most favored flower in Japan and used for the crest of the Imperial Family.

<October; 神無月[kannaduki]>:
Direct translation is "no god month."
In October, all japanese gods (see Japanese Christmas) gather at izumo area to have big conference.
Therefore no god is in other areas in this month.

<November; 霜月[shimotsuki]>:
Direct translation is "frost month". In November, it is getting cold and frost begin to cover land in the morning.

<December; 師走[shiwasu]>:
Direct translation is "teacher run".
In order to understand it, you must know that in older days, people bought everything on credit and must pay it at the end of year and schools were operated individual teacher and he had to collect the tuition fee by himself for his payment.
Teachers were very busy in this month.
Of course, ordinary people were also busy.
But teachers are usually enjoy rather noble life and his busy appearance was funny.

By Hararie