Chinese Chan(Zen,中國禪)

[Yusuphhai]

明（Ming2）in Chinese means enlightment. The left part look like a sun, the right part look like a moon.

 

[public hermit]

明（Ming2）in Chinese means enlightment. The left part look like a sun, the right part look like a moon.

Interesting. So, why does the conjunction of sun and moon mean enlightenment?

 

[Yusuphhai]

Interesting. So, why does the conjunction of sun and moon mean enlightenment?

As Hebrew\Greek\Latin\German have Positive and Negative words.

 

[public hermit]

As Hebrew\Greek\Latin\German have Positive and Negative words.

That makes sense. Thank you.

 

[Noxot]

I don't see the sun and moon in that word. Are there older forms of this word like how there is an older form of Hebrew? The jews have a pretty rich knowledge of the symbolisms of their letters and words. Don't the Japanese switch things around and consider the moon to be masculine and the sun to be feminine? What do the Chinese think? for the most part I've heard the sun is masculine and the moon feminine.

I watched a PBS show talking about how the alphabet took their shape. Apparently the "a" was originally based on a cow or bull. But this was talking about Western languages I guess.

 

[Robban]

明（Ming2）in Chinese means enlightment. The left part look like a sun, the right part look like a moon.

Day four the sun and moon were created.

What gave light then day one?

The moon is lesser than the sun so too, left is lesser than right.

 

[amci]

I was curious, so I looked up the oracle bone script (1200 BC) of this character:

Here's a group of historical forms of the character(s):

明 - Wiktionary

 

[dlamberth]

Interesting. So, why does the conjunction of sun and moon mean enlightenment?

I have no idea of the Chinese image Ming2. What I understand is that the way those in Asia think is very different than the West. Generally in the Wisdom cultures, the moon is experienced as receptive. And the Sun is experienced as expressive. Together they can be experienced as yin/yang which is expressed in the Wisdom of the Tao, or "The Way". Thus enlightenment. The Chinese glyphs, like most alphabets started out as depiction of animist images just as Noxot suggested for the letter "a".

 

[Noxot]

I was curious, so I looked up the oracle bone script (1200 BC) of this character:

Here's a group of historical forms of the character(s):

明 - Wiktionary

Now that looks like a sun and a moon! I love how languages and words evolve. I believe it to be a deep truth of the logos, the son of God.

 

[Robban]

Now that looks like a sun and a moon! I love how languages and words evolve. I believe it to be a deep truth of the logos, the son of God.

The moon waxes and wanes,

The 15th of the month (Lunar calender)
is full moon, thereafter it begins to decrease.

It is more like a cresent, I think a symbol for Islam but they have a star and a cresent.

 

[Noxot]

The moon waxes and wanes,

The 15th of the month (Lunar calender)
is full moon, thereafter it begins to decrease.

It is more like a cresent, I think a symbol for Islam but they have a star and a cresent.

it's good that it's a crescent because if it was two circles people might get a different idea about what it means.

 

[Robban]

it's good that it's a crescent because if it was two circles people might get a different idea about what it means.

A bicycle?

Haha.

 

[cloudyday2]

To me it looks like a smiling one-eyed clown laying on his side.

Or maybe a banana having a private conversation with a donut.

 

[Yusuphhai]

Thanks for your replies. Maybe you are interested in the Book of Changes（Zhou1Yi4,周易）.--(Negative),一(Positive) are the basic symbols. You can watch the National flag of Korea.

But Zen was invented originally in Hindu. Chinese buddhists had a recombination with Chinese Taoism.

 

[Robban]

Thanks for your replies. Maybe you are interested in the Book of Changes（Zhou1Yi4,周易）.--(Negative),一(Positive) are the basic symbols. You can watch the National flag of Korea.

But Zen was invented originally in Hindu. Chinese buddhists had a recombination with Chinese Taoism.

I did a quick check on the Korean flag,

it has most symbols than any other flag.

What I clicked on it told of symbolism for coming of Messiah.

One thing I keep in mind is,

Abraham sent off his sons to the East with gifts,

If those gifts were mistaken or misused is a matter for thought.

It is not the mouse that is the thief but the mousehole.

Best block the mousehole, would reckon.

 

[Yusuphhai]

I did a quick check on the Korean flag,

it has most symbols than any other flag.

What I clicked on it told of symbolism for coming of Messiah.

One thing I keep in mind is,

Abraham sent off his sons to the East with gifts,

If those gifts were mistaken or misused is a matter for thought.

It is not the mouse that is the thief but the mousehole.

Best block the mousehole, would reckon.

"If I am a Pet mouse of Jewish?"(I have changed the original sentence)

 

[Robban]

If I am a Jewish mouse?

I was referring to "thoughts",it is not so much the thought in and of itself that is a danger,

but what one does with it.

A thought can be likened with a sword,
I can draw a sword and without doing any harm I
can put it back in it's sheaf.


It was nothing personal.

 

[Yusuphhai]

I was referring to "thoughts",it is not so much the thought in and of itself that is a danger,

but what one does with it.

A thought can be likened with a sword,
I can draw a sword and without doing any harm I
can put it back in it's sheaf.


It was nothing personal.

Sorry, maybe my English expression is not well(English is not my first language). I mean "If I am a Pet mouse of Jewish?"(I have changed the sentence) In Chinese opinion, "Mouse" can mean clever. Chinese have 12 animals symbols for 12 years. If I have a sword, it fight for Israel.

 

[Robban]

Sorry, maybe my English expression is not well(English is not my first language). I mean "If I am a Pet mouse of Jewish?"(I have changed the sentence) In Chinese opinion, "Mouse" can mean clever. Chinese have 12 animals symbols for 12 years. If I have a sword, it fight for Israel.

My fault.
As Hillel says;

"Do not say something that is not readily understood in the belief that it will ultimately
be understood."

 

[Yusuphhai]

A Chinese Poem(詩)

落花人獨立，微雨燕雙飛

I see Falling flowers and a swallow flying with its companion in small rain(雨，Yu3).

"rain" (雨，Yu3)and "saying"(語，Yu3) in Chinese pronounce the same.