稲
rice plant; lightning
Kanji 1656
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This kanji has quite a split personality. Growing rice (稲) is a deeply down-to-earth pursuit. But 稲 is also linked to fanciful notions that lightning impregnates rice and that tofu-loving foxes are messengers for the god Inari (稲荷). He is reputed to help with crops, health, sex, and money, so Inari shrines abound, steeped in fox statues and other symbols—all a far cry from farmers’ earthy concerns.
Revision History:
Oct. 31, 2023: p. 13: Fixed a broken link.
Nov. 24, 2021: p. 6: Corrected information about what I thought was a faucet but is actually a bell.
June 30, 2021:
- p. 2: Deleted the older Henshall etymology, leaving only the newer one.
- p. 18: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.
Apr. 30, 2019: p. 4: Added info. to the photo caption about the history of rice cultivation.
Apr. 27, 2019: Originally published.
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