Comments for Shotokan Karate http://www.shotokanclassic.com Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:57:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on Heian Nidan by Louis Irving http://www.shotokanclassic.com/heian-nidan/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Louis Irving Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:57:34 +0000 http://www.shotokanclassic.com/heian-nidan/#comment-41 Your explanation is slightly wrong. Kanji have two readings, the 'on' (Chinese) and 'kun' (Japanese) reading. Thus, in Japanese language, a single kanji can be said in two different ways. For example, the kanji 空 can be pronounced "kara", as in karate, or as "aki" an in aki-kan (empty aluminium can). Actually, this kanji has a third reading too - sora (sky), so it's perhaps not the best example. Anyway, "shi" sounds very similar to the Japanese word "to die" (shi-nu), and Japanese people generally don't use "shi" when counting. Most people use "yon" or "yo". In fact, I don't think I've ever heard anyone using shi except in a dojo context. Louis Irving, Tsukuba, Japan. p.s. I would be very surprised if anyone can actually say karate kata are actually 3,000 years old - especially considering that we don't know so much about karate's lineage more than about 600 years. Your explanation is slightly wrong.
Kanji have two readings, the ‘on’ (Chinese) and ‘kun’ (Japanese) reading. Thus, in Japanese language, a single kanji can be said in two different ways. For example, the kanji 空
can be pronounced “kara”, as in Karate, or as “aki” an in aki-kan (empty aluminium can). Actually, this kanji has a third reading too – sora (sky), so it’s perhaps not the best example.

Anyway, “shi” sounds very similar to the Japanese word “to die” (shi-nu), and Japanese people generally don’t use “shi” when counting. Most people use “yon” or “yo”. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone using shi except in a dojo context.

Louis Irving,
Tsukuba, Japan.

p.s. I would be very surprised if anyone can actually say karate kata are actually 3,000 years old – especially considering that we don’t know so much about karate’s lineage more than about 600 years.

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