kanji

Yojijukugo is a Japanese idiom consisted of four kanji. Many are based on the ideas of Chinese traditions or classical texts.

In other words, you can also say that yojijukugo is a piece of art, of building up four kanji with individual meanings into one phrase with one meaning. As compared to the number of characters the information they carry is so much bigger, and because it can help smoothening communication between people who know the word yojijukugo is often used for promo words. There are even some new yojijukugo invented by copywriters.

I sometimes see non-Japanese people with yojijukugo tatoos, but there are some that makes me wonder if they really know the meaning.
So here, I will introduce you some yojijukugo that have good meanings and good appearance.

	[upper empty, lower full]
Jokyo-Kajitsu "jo"= up, upper "kyo"= empty "ka"= low, lower "jitsu"= full "jokyo" means to relax your muscles in the upper half of your body, and "kajitsu" means to stand with your knees bent. In other words, by standing firmly with both legs and concentrating your energy in the lower body, your upper body becomes flexible and reactable to all situations. This is the ideal state physically and mentally at all times. [Introduced by Lorenzo]

	[spiritual state of nothingness]
Shinto-Mekkyaku "shin"= mind (kokoro) "to"= head/ a suffix meaning "around [a place]" "metsu"= to destroy "kyaku"= to leave "mekkyaku" means to totally destroy. In this case, it means to take away all thoughts in your mind. Absolute nothingness.

	[food and medicine come from nature]
Ishoku-Dogen "i"= medicine, medical science "shoku"= diet, food "do"= same "gen"= source, origin Ishoku-Dogen is an idea originating in Oriental medicine, which focuses on prevention of diseases rather than the remedies after becoming ill. It means that medicinal effects exist even in the most basic daily diet. This leads to the idea that the source of diet and medicine is the same and is better to depend on things coming from the nature.

	[to be unconfined and detached]
Kouun-Ryusui "kou"= to go "un"= cloud "ryu"= to flow "sui"= water To be bound to nothing and obsessed with nothing, just like the clouds flowing in the sky and water running. Serenity of mind becoming a person who is identified with the clouds in the sky and the stream below

	[like crazy]
Shishi-Funjin "shishi"= lion "fun"= to pluck up courage "jin"= quick, raging Just like a furious lion, to show extreme momentum towards a project or an event. To be very energetic.

NEXT

I'd like to continue introducing you yojijukugo with good meanings and cool appearance.
Or if you have any questions, like, "what does my tatoo really mean?", don't hesitate to give us an e-mail :-)

Of course, we still welcome those who want to have their names converted in kanji. Just e-mail to samurai@jmode.co.jp