Flag of Japan

Hey all,

    I don't wanna sound sinocentric here, but it seems that the sun, as a symbol of Japan, has something to do with it being the farthest east in the known world of the past.  It's true that there's also the legend of the sun goddess, but one wonder this in the chicken and egg logic: did this legend become prevalent precisely because of Japan's "Eastness?"  In other words, we cannot insist that the sun goddess was the only legend in Japan and in the its patheon of kama.  The salience of the concept of the sun might be a cause, not an effect, of the popularity of the sun goddess.   After all, Japan, which is Latin Japon, pronounced "Ya pon," is an obvious variant of "Ri bun," "Ni pon," etc, which means "origin of the sun."

Peace,

Michael

9-1-2004

Hey Hannibal,

    Is the "Kua Fu chasing the sun" legend about this guy running to see the sun, and then, on the way there, he got thirsty, so he ran back to get some water, but on the way to get some water he died of thirt -- is that the one?  I forget where I read about this, but I'm pretty bummed by it =(

Peace,

Michael

9-1-2004

china has a kind of plaster paper used to relief people from muscle injury is just like the flag.

Actually... the first people to address themselves to China as King of where the sun rises is the Koguryos in Shuei dynasty.  Before that, �֩� (King Shao Hao, which is Sun in the Sky, probably same person as ���A) and �ө� (King Tai Hao, same character, probably same as �F�z).  These two guys are from the ancient race of �i (Yi).  Yes, same as �F�i(Dong-Yi).... Since they are from the east, they are chose their name for that reason, as King of the Sun.  Since the Corean people is also descendents of the ancient Yi (not the only descendents), it makes sense why King of Koguryo would adress himself as such when address the Emperor Yang of Shuei Dynasty.  After all, he is to the east.  Saying �F Dong in Chinese acutally means where the sun rise.  Just that people don't don't relate the two right away.

The name �饻 Japan, is actually given to the Japanese by the Emperess of Hou Chou, the only female emperor of China in the middle of the Tang dynasty.  The Japanese addressed themselves as People from where the sun rise.  It upset her a bit, but later on she gave them the name of �饻 and a seal to go with it.  Remeber, this is back when Japan was still not within the Asian interational community yet.

���� (King Yan) and ���� (King Huang) you can argue if they are called that because they are the sun kings, but there is no proof.  You can guess all you want.  I can just as well say King Huang iis called that, because he's from ���e (Yellow river, Huang He).  And flame is not the same as sun is it?

Anyway......  just my regular bashing...