Parsing ai ki do
I know nothing about Japanese, so maybe some of you can help. What's the best translation of Aikido into English? What are the acceptable variations of interpretation?
Way of finding harmony with your spirit? The Way in Harmony with the Spirit? Or, the spiritual way of harmony? Or, a harmonious spiritual way? Or, even, the way of peaceful living?! Is it obvious what I'm asking, or am I just making a fool of myself? In Japanese, what are the objects and subjects? I'm only asking because I have recently come across some translations that strike ms as suspiciously Western (e.g. the first one above). Cheers. |
Re: Parsing ai ki do
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido
It's three symbols which translate to, more or less, "joining-spirit-way". The common character for harmony ("wa") does not appear in the name. The above translations might have some figurative validity, and are perfectly fair suggestions about the "deeper meaning" of aikido, but they have relatively little to do with the literal meaning of the word. |
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Koichi Tohei, "This is Aikido":
"the way to a meeting with ki" He then says that the word "ki" can't be translated. I think replacing it with the English word "spirit" is not adequate. A more interesting question is whether "ki aikido" makes any sense in Japanese or if it's one of those things like "Windows NT Technology" (aka Windows New Technology Technology). Ki aikido - the way to meeting ki with ki? Sounds bogus to me.... |
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Tomiki Sensei often used this for an English meaning:
"the Way Of Appropriate Fitting" |
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Lol. I know what you mean about ki aikido (even though I practice it!)
Paul, what are the restrictions on the order of words as they are translated to English? E.g. Is it the way of harmonious spirit, or the spiritual way of harmony, or the way to join with spirit, or the way to a life of harmony? Or, is it just best to agree with Tohei Sensei and not try to do a direct translation? |
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I've never heard that, Chuck.
Thanks. |
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There is actually no grammatical structure implied in the word "Aikido". That is, there's no genitive or possessive case involved. Japanese compounds don't quite work like that. It's just a string of concepts with no linking grammar. I do think it's reasonable to view it as "Aiki-Do". That is, aiki arguably forms a subset. Aikijutsu, aikido, etc. So put another way: "The Way of Aiki". Where Aiki is a concept of matching one's ki or fitting with one's "energy". As for "energy" or "ki", I do defend the "spirit" translation as reasonably correct; the English term "spirit" matches reasonably closely in terms of usage. Like, it can be ethereal or purely psychological, for instance. It can refer to "energy" ("Do it with spirit!") or to "attitude" ("in good spirits"). So the real question is: what is "aiki"? |
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I'd also add: I really would be cautious about reading the word "harmony" into "aikido". Wado (harmony-way) is another word; e.g., "Wado-ryu karate". Is harmony an important concept in aikido? Sure! But it's not in the word itself in a literal sense.
So what does "ai" mean? Well, Jim Breen's acclaimed online dictionary defines the character "ai" (verb form: "awasu") as follows: to join together; to face; to unite; to be opposite; to combine; to connect; to add up; to mix; to match; to overlap; to compare; to check with; So aiki is uniting, joining, fitting, etc. with ki, e.g., your opponent's ki. |
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In a typical Japanese kanji dictionary there are hundreds of compound words containing the character for KI and these words have quite ordinary meanings. How would you parse a word like kishoudai (weather station), irokichiga (sex mania), or koukiben (air valve)? Or a word like KOUHI (coffee)? The first character means 'ornamental hairpin' and the second means 'string of pearls'. But the 'real' meaning is the stuff we drink. You can get into endless difficulties if you try to find the 'real' meaning of a word by means of some kind of theory about the relationships of the characters that make up the word. There is no 'real' meaning of 'kishoudai' apart from 'weather station'. There are similar difficulties involved in trying to find the 'real' meaning of a single word, like BU, for example, by some kind of theory about the elements that make up the character (stopping spears, or whatever). 'Aikido' does not usually appear in Japanese kanji dictionaries, because it is a made-up word. However, the meaning of aikido is never a problem for Japanese native speakers, for the definition is given in any dictionary, such as the Kojien (p.4). The problem is that there is no single-word translation into English, so some non-Japanese try to find the 'real' meaning of the word by decomposing it into the characters, perhaps because it makes them feel good when they train. This is fine. I have no problems with this, just so long as they do not then suggest that this decomposition is the 'real' meaning of the word. Best wishes, |
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Very helpful, folks. Thanks.
Peter, that seems obvious now that you've pointed it out! Cheers. |
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David |
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Well, here's my two cents....
As others have mentioned, the literal translation is meeting,spirit, and way. But take those words with a grain of salt too. I don't like how the "Ai" is often misconstrued to mean "harmony". "Ki" is another one, as others have mentioned that is difficult to pin down. As for "Do" I don't like using it as a "the way of....". It sounds so light-hearted and more like a method, or a means to accomplish things, rather than a serious moral discipline. Also, I believe many have misunderstood the term "aiki" to mean joining with the ki of the attacker. However, according to some like Tohei and Kisshomaru, it actually refers to the joining of the ki of the mind with the ki of the body to become one. Ultimately, the goal is the become one with the universal ki. I am curious if this definition of aiki is the same as the one used in other "aiki" arts, such as Daito-ryu aiki-jutsu. While it is worthwhile to understand the meaning of the name, it is, just a name. From what I understand, it sounds like Ueshiba wasn't even the one to name the art he created. |
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David |
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My 2 cents: Before we begin to feel to fluffy in the sneakers about our use of 'Do', we might consider how deadly some passes can be on this nature hike. Speaking of nature: the equivalent of DO is Tao, written:triangle: :circle: :square: frequently translated as 'unobstructed nature'. Simply because we don't yet understand something does not mean we should discard that teaching or take a stance for or against it. I believe we should stay humble and continue to seek to come to a new place of renewed understanding. thanks |
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John |
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The arts are here to be practiced, no matter what we call them. |
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Aikido without ki.... or without understanding of ki.... is not aikido. |
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John |
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The best definition of 'ki' that I've come across is: "the lid must fit the pot."
In gassho, Mark |
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We must practice, but we must also learn. |
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