四つの蛇
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Old Japanese
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally “the four serpents”. Originates from the Nirvana Sutra, which says, “Earth, water, fire and wind are like four great snakes”.
Noun
[edit]四つの蛇 (yo2tu no2 pe2mi1) (kana よつのへみ)
- The four elements that make up the world: earth, water, fire, and wind
- c. 753, Bussokuseki no Uta (Yakushi-ji Buddha Footprint Poems), poem 19
- 与都乃閇美伊都都乃毛乃乃阿都麻礼流伎多奈伎微乎婆伊止比須都閇志波奈礼須都倍志
- yo2tu no2 pe2mi1 itutu no2 mono2 no2 atumareru ki1tanaki1 mi2 wo ba ito2pi1 sutu be2si panare sutu besi
- A filthy body where that which is unclean(literally, “the four serpents(the four elements) and five demons(the chandalas”) gather must be despised and abandoned; they must be separated and abandoned.
- c. 753, Bussokuseki no Uta (Yakushi-ji Buddha Footprint Poems), poem 19