柵

fence with spaced slats

Kanji 2018

From bamboo fences to iron railings, from electric fences to doors on subway platforms, 柵 can represent many barriers in our daily landscapes. Learning 柵 therefore provides access to practical vocabulary. This kanji is also associated with ancient forts. On a more abstract plane, 柵 can stand for "ties of obligation between people," something that often shackles those in Japanese society.

Revision history:

Feb. 21, 2022: 

• p. 1, Character Profile: Indicated more clearly that サク is an on-yomi.
• p. 2, Etymology Box: Added a Henshall etymology and updated the Sears link.
• p. 9: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Nov. 18, 2016: p. 15: Revised a photo caption, removing an explanation of the term 蝦夷 because it may be questionable. I've also changed the yomi of that term from えぞ to えみし because although both are acceptable, the latter term is older, which is more suitable for this discussion. 

Aug. 19, 2016: Originally published.