Merry Christmas everybody!
Today is a normal working day for most people here in Japan. I've just been to the bank, the post office, and the baker's. Builders are constructing a house in the next street so there is a racket of drilling and crashing and banging.
I'm home alone as I'm the only one whose holidays have already begun in this household. So I have a bit of time to reflect on the year that is almost over.
It's been a while since I posted anything here, and even longer since I made any progress with my "Iroha Karuta" series of Japanese proverbs, so here goes!
Lapis Lazuli and Crystal
The eleventh syllable in the traditional Japanese Hiragana syllabary is "Ru" ("る"). In the picture card we can see a Japanese gentleman inspecting a massive gemstone, or perhaps a crystal ball, which is shining brilliantly on its portable display stand.
Translation
The word for "crystal" is "hari" in Japanese. In the proverb, two precious stones are mentioned, crystal, and lapis lazuli. The word for "lapis lazuli" is "ruri" in Japanese, and it is this "RUri" which provides us with the first syllable of the proverb - "RU":
"Ruri mo hari mo teraseba hikaru." 「瑠璃も玻璃も照らせば光る。」
My suggested translation:
**"Both Lapiz lazuli and crystal shine when illuminated."
瑠璃 = Ruri = Lapis lazuli
玻璃 = hari = crystal
も = mo = both / and
照らせば = teraseba = if/when illuminated
光る = hikaru = shine
Interpretation
This proverb is usually taken to mean that talented people will shine when given an opportunity, and in doing so, they will shine with their own particular colour or quality.
Christmas Message?
It is quite coincidental that this should be the next card in the series. I wanted to restart my blogging practice on the Hive blockchain and beginning with the Japanese Iroha Karuta seemed like a good way to ease myself back into it. Blogging may be a way for people to "shine a light" on whatever talent is hidden within themselves.
For talent - if it be talent - responds to the Light which the darkness cannot comprehend.
In 2024 I shall be transitioning from teaching full time to teaching part time and spending more time building my online business, a big part of which is driven by content creation. Let us hope it is a case of shining like lapis lazuli when teaching, and like crystal when blogging.
All the best,
David Hurley
#InspiredFocus