天児
Japanese
| Kanji in this term | |
|---|---|
| 天 | 児 |
| あま Grade: 1 |
Grade: 4 |
| kun'yomi | irregular |
| Alternative spellings |
|---|
| 天兒 (kyūjitai) 天倪 尼児 |
Etymology
Unknown. The initial ama portion seems to be 天 (ama, “heaven, heavens”), but the latter portion is unclear. This may be ancient genitive particle が (ga) plus unknown morpheme つ (tsu).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [a̠ma̠ɡa̠t͡sɨ]
Noun
天児 • (amagatsu)
- a protective charm for babies, made as a doll in the form of a baby, and intended to take on any misfortune in the real baby's stead; originally made of wood or bamboo, with the body and arms traditionally in a T shape and with a round head attached on top
Usage notes
This term appears to have fallen out of common use.
See also
- 這子 (hōko): another kind of talismanic doll
References
- Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- Matsumura, Akira, editor (1995), 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN