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The ito element: unravelling the thread in kanji

På svenska

Author

  • Erik Sandling

Summary, in English

This paper is the first exhaustive investigation of a single kanji component: the ito element. Although, this element generally refers to thread or textile, the study examined this relationship and found a strong relationship to silk, cocoons, and craft—particularly weaving. A surprising find was the connection to dyeing/colour, which might not be obvious to the average student of Japanese. Moreover, the ito element was investigated to reveal further secondary meanings. What emerged were the subcategories time and tangle/unravel, with the associated sense emotional entanglement. The findings of the study hope to inspire future research in the field of kanji components; creating new connections, links, ties and bonds.

Department/s

Publishing year

2023

Language

English

Document type

Student publication for Bachelor's degree

Topic

  • Languages and Literatures

Keywords

  • Japanese
  • kanji
  • radical
  • element
  • ito-hen
  • ito
  • thread
  • textile
  • learning

Supervisor

  • Benjamin Kirkland Macaulay