View Full Version : Japanese translation help
The Possessed
24-10-09, 11:31
I was wondering if anybody could help me with a Japanese kanji translation? I ordered this print:
http://www.zazzle.com/karate_shotokan_poster-228771637757386107
I want to get it framed but first I want to get the English translation of each kanji put underneath each character by calligraphy. Thanks for any help that anyone can offer:)
空手道 = Karatedo
空 = Kara
手 = te
道 = do
The Possessed
25-10-09, 06:44
Ah many thanks. I think I won't bother then, I'd imaginged it being a philosophy line of some sort or karate code. You know like the Samurai's would have had"courage", "honour" and along those lines.
Well, it's "the way of the karate", it's a philosophy in itself :)
The Possessed
25-10-09, 08:54
Well, it's "the way of the karate", it's a philosophy in itself :)
Is that what Karate Do translates as? That'd be cool put on there:cool:
She's right and it's mega deep stuff.
Karate literally means Empty Hand.
However this ’empty’ is not about physical emptiness but a Buddhism concept of Sunyata (Buddhism originates in ancient India and they also came up with the idea of 'zero' = Sunyata)
If you are really interested in the thoughts behind karate then check this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9A%C5%ABnyat%C4%81
It's quite mind boggling. I wouldn't have known if my Father hadn't graduated in Oriental Theology! haha.
it shares a lot in terms of phillosiphy with wing chun and korean tekkyon as they where all origionally based on the teachings of an indian monk who travelled across the far east. he helped establish the principles of shaolin before moving to japan. as a result most martial arts share a common core phillosophy of spiritual and mental conditioning, possitive attitude and harmonious existance based on the principles of budhism.
I read quite a few books on the subject back in the days when I was spending many, many hours in the dojo. As Mole says, it's mind boggling and to be honest the only person I ever met who physically showed a "something" was Master Kase. I'm purely referring to karate.
The Possessed
27-10-09, 20:33
What do you mean by "Physically showed a something" Ten?:confused:
I sincerely hope that something wasn't a long object.
(It was for my Kendo!)
What do you mean by "Physically showed a something" Ten?:confused:
The emptiness - not exactly something easy too see :blink:
The Possessed
28-10-09, 10:19
It's all starting to go over my head a bit at this point -_- I don't understand how a person can keep themselves clear or "empty" at all times. Bruce Lee taught this concept too but how does one keep their own heads at bay? I mean it's human to think isn'tit?:confused:
Meditation helps you "emptying" yourself. Not the easiest of the things, but that's the way to reach that stage - not constantly and forever, but at will. Far from me claiming I'm an expert, I had to stay clear from full meditation classes as I get restless :D
draconacticus
28-10-09, 10:39
Part of that emptiness is also acheived through relentless training. In all martial arts one of the goals is not to think about a strike or counter in sparring and just react to an opening/shift in body weight from your opponent.
This kind of conditioning/emptiness only comes from endless practice and doing combinations, pad work, sparring, kata etc., again and again and again until it becomes reflex.
A good spar flows, the ultimate goal is not to have to think about it at all, almost like it's a meditation in it's own right.