Tag: etymology

Archery as an Ancient Art!

Daoism: Archery in the Central Plains! (5.3.2024)

Indeed, as a distinct body of rituals – Confucianism is older – with Daoism developing later. The problem is that historical elements of both ideologies exist within China’s early history. These elements eventually diversified into specific and distinct schools of thought – that seem ‘different’ in practice (which they are) – whilst sharing similar or identical concepts. Term ‘道’ (Dao) exists in Confucian thought as well as in the musings of Laozi and Zhuangzi! Above is my short research paper on the ‘中’ (zhong1) ideogram in relation to archery and ‘hitting the target’.

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The Mighty Okinawan Lion!

Ryukyu: Studying the ‘Okinawa’ Name! (22.2.2024)

I was asked about the history and meaning of the name ‘Okinawa’ and ‘Ryukyu’ – both Japanese in origin – but premised upon older Chinese ideograms. At the above link, there is my research regarding the forensic study of the ideograms involved and my conclusions premised upon these findings. The term ‘Okinawa’ appears to be a post-1872 CE construct – at least in regard to the forming of the Japanese Prefecture of that name. Generally, Chinese literature does not use this term – but prefers the far older ‘Lu Qiu’ designation which dates back around 1500-years.

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35000 BCE - Dragon

Qianfeng Daoism: Enter the Dragon! (9.2.2024)

Considering how important the concept of the ‘Dragon’ is throughout Chinese culture – I was surprised just how haphazard the construction of its representing ideogram actually is. As this is my area of academic expertise, I could not believe what I was looking at! Consequently, it took me three-days to disentangle the mess that this ideogram seems to have gotten itself into. Having achieved this objective – I then unloaded the finished article onto the Qianfeng Daoist website I help to administer.

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Genealogy: ‘DARIИGOLD’ – Provenance of a First-Name! (22.9.2023)

I hope this lady lived a long and happy life free from pain – as out of her genetics I have come into being -and so have my children! Over the years I have broached the subject of her ‘first’ or ‘Christian’ name – ‘Daringold’ – with a number of academic experts who state that they have never encountered this name before and that it must be the consequence of a ‘copying’ mistake or ‘hearing’ error! This certainly happens as in the past (particularly the 17th century CE) the English languish was not yet ‘Standardised’ and illiteracy abounded! Scribes (or ‘Scriveners’) were highly skilled – but these educated individuals often spelt the same word in different ways – even when this word appeared on the same page (Shakespeare was famous for ding this in his original texts)!

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Battersea Park: The Central Bandstand! (27.5.2023)

The River Wandle flows for around 9 miles – and originates in the Waddon Ponds and Carshalton Ponds area – a boundary area spanning East Surrey and Southwest Greater London (the London Borough of Sutton and Cheam). The River Wandle enters the right-bank of the River Thames in the vicinity now called ‘Wandsworth’. Both the river (and the place) are probably named after a mighty Saxon Warlord named ‘Waendel’ whose clan dominated a large swathe of Southern and Eastern England! Indeed, so powerful was this man’s reputation that his name came to dominate an entire British river! 

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