薦

to recommend, advise; mat

Kanji 1499

People typically use this kanji to recommend things (e.g., restaurants, books, and hotels) or people (e.g., for positions). But 薦 also has connections to everything from saké barrels, straw mats, and wall coverings to Shinto rituals, flute-playing priests, and beggars, as well as the sacrum, wild rice, and azuki beans. This essay explores the relationships between these disparate themes!

Revision history:

Sept. 28, 2023: p. 12: Fixed a broken link.

June 4, 2021: 

• p. 2: Updated the Henshall etymology, then modified places on p. 1 and p. 12 where I had referred to his now-discarded etymology.
• p. 8 sidebar: Made quite a few revisions.
• p. 12: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Mar. 20, 2015: Originally published.