Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto - What does this series title mean?
Phil Yff
the background of the Boshin War during the Meiji Restoration. The series
began this last October and is broadcast on the Japanese streaming video
channel GyaO. Here's the official site:
http://www.gyao.jp/anime/iroha/
Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto is a mouthful. Literally translated, it
means, "Closing Days of the Tokugawa Shogunate as Organ Theory - As Flowers
are Brilliant but...". This is even more of a mouthful and almost as
incomprehensible. So what does it really need.
The title is a play on words. Tennou kikansetsu (天皇機関説) was a political
doctrine articulated by Minobe Tatsukichi, a famous Japanese constitutional
scholar. Known in English as the "Emperor-as-organ theory" it states that
the emperor's role in governing the state is limited by the laws of the
land. This was in contrast to the view that the emperor was a living god
whose authority transcended the political system. Minobe interpreted the
emperor-centric Meiji constitution liberally in order to employ it as a
modern democratic constitution.
Bakumatsu (literally, the end of the tent government) refers to the closing
days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It signified the transfer of power from
Shogun to Emperor. Thus, Bakumatsu kikansetsu "Closing Days of the
Tokugawa Shogunate as Organ Theory" is synonymous with Tennou kikansetsu
"Emperor-as-organ theory" except the perspective is different. The point
of view emphasizes the departure of the Shogun as a political power. It
suggests though that the highest power in the nation is subject to the laws
of the land.
The long concluding pharase, irohanihoheto, is the first line of a very old
but well-known poem. The poem as a whole and especially the first two
lines reflects on the transient nature of things. It is based on verses
from the Nirvana sutras and illustrate the Buddhist doctrine of
impermanence. Its purpose in the title is to emphasize the vicissitudes of
fortune. The phrase, "irohanihoheto", itself means "as flowers are
brilliant but...". The thought concludes with "inevitably scatter". So
the sentiment is, "as flowers are brilliant but inevitably scatter."
The sense of the title is "Subject the vicissitudes of the transfer of
power to the rule of law."
Maybe we should just call it Samurai X. ^-^
Mata ato de,
Phil Yff
David Johnston
wrote:
>Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto is a sword and sorcery drama set against
>the background of the Boshin War during the Meiji Restoration.
And here I thought the days of elaborately silly sounding titles for
anime series were over.
Phil Yff
Are you talking about "Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto" or "Samurai X"?
^-^
Well, Kareshi Kanojou no Jijou (His and Her Circumstances) became Kare Kano
because nobody wanted to reel off the whole title. How about Baka Iroha
for "Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto"? That would translate nicely as
"Silly ABCs".
Phil Yff
[snip]
> Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto is a mouthful. Literally translated, it
> means, "Closing Days of the Tokugawa Shogunate as Organ Theory - As Flowers
> are Brilliant but...". This is even more of a mouthful and almost as
> incomprehensible.
[snip]
>
> Maybe we should just call it Samurai X. ^-^
I am just kidding. Even if I were insane or drunk enough to seriously
consider such a ludicrous name, it's already taken. ^-^
Eric Schwartz
> The long concluding pharase, irohanihoheto, is the first line of a very old
> but well-known poem.
Is it also the source of the 'iroha' method of saying the Japanese
syllabary?
-=Eric
S.t.A.n.L.e.E
Never! Not in the name of Carlos María Eduardo García de la Cal
Fernández Leal Luna Delgado Galván Sanz Arrieta Colindres Barandiarán
Berruguete Vicente Dopereiro Ayala González de Tejada Inigo Montoya!
Laters. =)
STan
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bobbie sellers
How about "Tokugawa Era as Sakura, fall..."
later
bliss -- C O C O A Powered... (at california dot com)
--
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco
Ningen banji Human beings do
Samazama no Every single kind
Baka a suru Of stupid thing
--- 117th edition of Haifu Yanagidaru published in 1832
Phil Yff
Absolutely. The equivalent of alphabetic arrangement would follow the
sequence of the syllables in the poem. One of the Martian Successor
Nadesico episodes depicts learning the alphabet the iroha way.
Phil Yff
> On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:32:10 -0500,Phil Yff, wrote
>
>> On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:15:20 -0500, Phil Yff wrote:
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>>> Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto is a mouthful. Literally translated, it
>>> means, "Closing Days of the Tokugawa Shogunate as Organ Theory - As Flowers
>>> are Brilliant but...". This is even more of a mouthful and almost as
>>> incomprehensible.
>> [snip]
>>>
>>> Maybe we should just call it Samurai X. ^-^
>>
>> I am just kidding. Even if I were insane or drunk enough to seriously
>> consider such a ludicrous name, it's already taken. ^-^
>>
>> Mata ato de,
>>
>> Phil Yff
>
> How about "Tokugawa Era as Sakura, fall..."
It certainly rolls off the tongue more smoothly. A title that preserves
the three main elements of the title might be.
Shogun fades away under the rule of law
The three elements of the title are:
1. The closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate
2. Highest authority in the nation is subject to the law of the land
3. The doctrine of impermanence: Everything is transient - all good
things must pass.
bobbie sellers
> On 12 Dec 2006 18:30:42 +0800, bobbie sellers wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:32:10 -0500,Phil Yff, wrote
> >
> >> On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:15:20 -0500, Phil Yff wrote:
> >>
> >> [snip]
> >>
> >>> Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto is a mouthful. Literally translated, it
> >>> means, "Closing Days of the Tokugawa Shogunate as Organ Theory - As Flowers
> >>> are Brilliant but...". This is even more of a mouthful and almost as
> >>> incomprehensible.
> >> [snip]
> >>>
> >>> Maybe we should just call it Samurai X. ^-^
> >>
> >> I am just kidding. Even if I were insane or drunk enough to seriously
> >> consider such a ludicrous name, it's already taken. ^-^
> >>
> >> Mata ato de,
> >>
> >> Phil Yff
> >
> > How about "Tokugawa Era as Sakura, fall..."
I meant to edit this further but it got sent along with a post
to another group while I was too sleepy this morning..
Tokugawa fades as do the brightest blossoms...
> It certainly rolls off the tongue more smoothly. A title that preserves
> the three main elements of the title might be.
>
> Shogun fades away under the rule of law
>
> The three elements of the title are:
>
> 1. The closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate 2. Highest authority in
> the nation is subject to the law of the land 3. The doctrine of
> impermanence: Everything is transient - all good things must pass.
Not all good things but all things regardless of our opinion of them,
Even the Tokugawa remmants embedded in Japan's oppressive bureaucracy
will dissipate one day and the bureaucracy by all accounts is already
rotten.
All is subject to the law of impermanence.
Too bad the Shinsengummi didn't grasp the idea more fully.
> Mata ato de,
>
> Phil Yff
later
Phil Yff
>>> How about "Tokugawa Era as Sakura, fall..."
>
> I meant to edit this further but it got sent along with a post
> to another group while I was too sleepy this morning..
>
> Tokugawa fades as do the brightest blossoms...
>
>> It certainly rolls off the tongue more smoothly. A title that preserves
>> the three main elements of the title might be.
>>
>> Shogun fades away under the rule of law
>>
>> The three elements of the title are:
>>
>> 1. The closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate 2. Highest authority in
>> the nation is subject to the law of the land 3. The doctrine of
>> impermanence: Everything is transient - all good things must pass.
>
> Not all good things but all things regardless of our opinion of them,
> Even the Tokugawa remmants embedded in Japan's oppressive bureaucracy
> will dissipate one day and the bureaucracy by all accounts is already
> rotten.
>
> All is subject to the law of impermanence.
>
> Too bad the Shinsengummi didn't grasp the idea more fully.
>
I'm rereading Hillsborough's excellent book "Shinsengumi: The Last Samurai
Corps before I really tackle the series.
bobbie sellers
> On 13 Dec 2006 11:55:08 -0800, bobbie sellers wrote:
>
> >>> How about "Tokugawa Era as Sakura, fall..."
> >
> > I meant to edit this further but it got sent along with a post
> > to another group while I was too sleepy this morning..
> >
> > Tokugawa fades as do the brightest blossoms...
> >
> >> It certainly rolls off the tongue more smoothly. A title that preserves
> >> the three main elements of the title might be.
> >>
> >> Shogun fades away under the rule of law
Actually he resigned and though his enemies wanted him killed
he rusticated instead, a hero by inaction preserving his nation.
Unfortunately not all his party were so willing to resign their
power and influence. And the bureaucrats just went to work for the
new government as they did after WW II but preserved their Tokugawa
(maybe earlier) era sentiments under the Emperor and under the new
post WW II Diet.
> >> The three elements of the title are:
> >>
> >> 1. The closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate 2. Highest authority in
> >> the nation is subject to the law of the land 3. The doctrine of
> >> impermanence: Everything is transient - all good things must pass.
> >
> > Not all good things but all things regardless of our opinion of them,
> > Even the Tokugawa remmants embedded in Japan's oppressive bureaucracy
> > will dissipate one day and the bureaucracy by all accounts is already
> > rotten.
> >
> > All is subject to the law of impermanence.
> >
> > Too bad the Shinsengummi didn't grasp the idea more fully.
> >
> I'm rereading Hillsborough's excellent book "Shinsengumi: The Last
> Samurai Corps before I really tackle the series.
I found that book intensely informative as to the nature &
motives of the leaders of the group, clearing up some misconceptions
as to the genesis of the group. I had watched the TV doorama on
Fuji TV and found it quite sincerely stirring.
> Mata ato de,
>
> Phil Yff
later
Phil Yff
>> I'm rereading Hillsborough's excellent book "Shinsengumi: The Last
>> Samurai Corps before I really tackle the series.
>
> I found that book intensely informative as to the nature &
> motives of the leaders of the group, clearing up some misconceptions
> as to the genesis of the group. I had watched the TV doorama on
> Fuji TV and found it quite sincerely stirring.
>
I remember you posting something earlier about the series. I watched the
first part of it when I was in Hawaii where it was being shown on TV. My
Japanese video store has the entire series. I'll check it the whole thing
out once I finish the book - thus killing two birds with one stone - Iroha
and Shinsengumi.