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1. Earth
2. Earth Dragon
4. Earth Tiger
5. Earth Rabbit
6. Earth Rat
7. Earth Dog
8. Earth Monkey
10. Earth Horse
11. Earth Dragon
12. Earth Snake
14. Earth Ox/Bull
15. Earth Pig/Boar
16. Earth Goat/Sheep
18. Five Elements
地球 is the name of the earth (our planet) in Chinese, old Korean Hanja and Japanese Kanji.
If you love the earth, or want to be reminded of where your home is in the solar system, this is the wall scroll for you.
(Used in Japanese version of five elements)
地 is the single-character element and title of the planet Earth in Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.
Because this is a single character, the definition is a little ambiguous and can have many meanings depending on the context in which it is used. These meanings include: earth, ground, land, soil, dirt, place, territory, bottom (of a package, book, etc.), earth (one of the Japanese five elements), the region in question, the local area, skin, texture, fabric, material, weave, base, background, one's true nature, narrative (i.e. descriptive part of a story), real life, actuality, etc.
In Japanese, this Kanji can be pronounced several ways, including chi, ji, tsushi, or tsuchi.
地 is also an element of the Japanese version of the five elements (the original Chinese version uses a different version of earth).
(One of the five elements)
土 is earth, soil, ground, or Terra.
Earth is one of the five elements that ancient Chinese believed all things were composed of. These elements are also part of the cycle of Chinese astrology. Every person has both an animal sign, and one of the five elements according to the date of their birth.
See Also: Five Elements | Chinese Zodiac
天地 is “Heaven and Earth” in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.
This title is used in many different contexts. It can be a general term but is also used by Buddhists and in other religions.
This can also be used to refer to all of nature, the universe, the top and bottom, the realm of life, or the sphere of existence.
The Year of the Earth Tiger
土虎 is Earth Tiger in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1878, 1938, 1998, and 2058.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 戊寅.
See Also: Tiger
The Year of the Earth Rabbit
土兔 is Earth Rabbit in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1879, 1939, 1999, and 2059.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 己卯.
See Also: Rabbit
The Year of the Earth Rat
土鼠 is Earth Rat in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1888, 1948, 2008, and 2068.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 戊子.
See Also: Rat
The Year of the Earth Dog
土狗 is Earth Dog in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1898, 1958, 2018, and 2078.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 戊戌.
See Also: Dog
The Year of the Earth Monkey
土猴 is Earth Monkey in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1908, 1968, 2028, and 2088.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 戊申.
See Also: Monkey
The Year of the Earth Rooster
土雞 is Earth Rooster in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1909, 1969, 2029, and 2089.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 己酉.
See Also: Rooster
The Year of the Earth Horse
土馬 is Earth Horse in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1918, 1978, 2038, and 2098.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 戊午.
See Also: Horse
The Year of the Earth Dragon
土龍 is Earth Dragon in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1868, 1928, 1988, and 2048.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 戊辰.
See Also: Dragon
The Year of the Earth Snake
土蛇 is Earth Snake in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1869, 1929, 1989, and 2049.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 己巳.
See Also: Snake
身土不二 (Shindofuni) is originally a Buddhist concept or proverb referring to the inseparability of body-mind and geographical circumstances.
This reads, “Body [and] earth [are] not two.”
Other translations or matching ideas include:
Body and land are one.
Body and earth can not be separated.
Body earth sensory curation.
You are what you eat.
Indivisibility of the body and the land (because the body is made from food and food is made from the land).
Going further, this speaks of our human bodies and the land from which we get our food being closely connected. This phrase is often used when talking about natural and organic vegetables coming directly from the farm to provide the healthiest foods in Japan.
Character notes: 身(shin) in this context does not just mean your physical body but a concept including both body and mind.
土 (do) refers to the soil, earth, clay, land, or in some cases, locality. It's not the proper name of Earth, the planet. However, it can refer to the land or realm we live in.
Japanese note: This has been used in Japan, on and off, since 1907 as a slogan for a governmental healthy eating campaign (usually pronounced as shindofuji instead of the original shindofuni in this context). It may have been hijacked from Buddhism for this propaganda purpose, but at least this is “healthy propaganda.”
Korean note: The phrase 身土不二 was in use by 1610 A.D. in Korea, where it can be found in an early medical journal.
In modern South Korea, it's written in Hangul as 신토불이. Korea used Chinese characters (same source as Japanese Kanji) as their only written standard form of the language until about a hundred years ago. Therefore, many Koreans will recognize this as a native phrase and concept.
See Also: Strength and Love in Unity
The Year of the Earth Ox/Bull
土牛 is Earth Ox/Bull in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1889, 1949, 2009, and 2069.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 己丑.
See Also: Ox/Bull
The Year of the Earth Pig/Boar
土豬 is Earth Pig/Boar in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1899, 1959, 2019, and 2079.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 己亥.
See Also: Pig/Boar
The Year of the Earth Goat/Sheep
土羊 is Earth Goat/Sheep in Chinese.
In the Chinese zodiac and sexagenary (60-year) cycle, this combination occurs in years that include 1919, 1979, 2039, and 2099.
In the sexagenary cycle, this year is represented by 己未.
See Also: Goat/Sheep
金木水火土 is a list of the Chinese characters for the five elements in a comfortable order (meaning that they “feel right” to a Chinese person who views this arrangement).
The order is metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Note that sometimes the metal element is translated as gold. And earth refers to soil versus the whole planet earth.
地水火風空 is the specifically-Japanese version of the five elements.
This is a little different than the ancient or original Chinese version.
The elements are written in this order:
1. Earth / Terra / Ground
2. Water
3. Fire
4. Wind / Air
5. Sky / Emptiness / Void / Ether
Note: This set of Kanji can also be romanized as “ji sui ka fuu kuu,” “jisuikafuukuu,” or “jisuikafuku.”
These can also be written in the order 地火風水空 (chi ka sui fuu kuu). Let me know when you place your order if you want the Kanji to be in this character order.
Be Down-to-Earth
腳踏實地 is a four-character proverb that suggests that you should be practical, realistic, and grounded.
Some translate this as a suggestion to be down-to-earth.
The first character means “feet.”
The second means “step on” or “stand.”
The third means “solid,” “real,” or “true.”
The last character means “ground,” “earth,” or “terra.”
Literally, this means “[keep your] Feet Standing [on] Solid Ground.”