Shussei Nobori, and a tragic ending
Article about: Have had a fair crack at translating this shussei nobori banner as the kanji are fairly clear. Unlike some, it contains quite a bit of information. My attempt (corrections welcome): 祝入
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And this tragic banner came with it.
故陸軍少尉北村孝之靈
Ko Rikugun Shooi Kitamura Takashi Rei
The late army second lieutenant Takashi Kitamura's spirit
(Takashi here is the 2 character version, the first being the one on the shussei nobori)
I got these 2 banners together here in Britain a few years ago, but I believe the seller got them together from Japan. They have been on my to-do list for a long time.
Would this banner have been displayed in a house (maybe after a temple service)? Or maybe just used in the service???
I am surprised it has survived, and been offered for sale in Japan.
Tony
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Yes, 贈 oku.ru/zō; gift/presented [to/from; depends on context]. In this case it is pronounced zō.
-- Guy
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故陸軍少尉北村孝之靈
Ko Rikugun Shooi Kitamura Takashi no Rei
之 [no] is a possessive particle. Other forms are の and 乃 -- all pronounced "no". I think the differences in form are attributable to the flow of the brush:
之 > 乃 > の
You will also see 之 carved on seals using seal script / oracle bone script .... but that form looks like a saguaro cactus!!
And to confuse matters more ... 之 is also "kore" [this]; you see carved on sword tangs.
-- Guy
Last edited by ghp95134; 03-15-2023 at 01:32 AM.
Reason: grammar
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Thanks Guy. I looked at the funeral banner first, guess it is a kind of coincidence that 孝之 and 孝 can both be Takashi, so I never went back and realised that 之 was being used as a possessive particle (even though I used a possessive in my translation!).
I guess it was a funeral banner for use at a temple service, doesn't seem like something to display at home.
As it refers to his spirit, I wonder if bereaved families would have such a service once it is certain that their son has perished far away overseas.
Tony
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Hi Tony,
孝之 as Takashi -- some coincidence! I'm pretty certain that bereaved families would have a service; I wish Nick were still with us to verify these cultural things -- he could tell us for sure!
Cheers,
-- Guy
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Yes, indeed. I guess we have to be very thankful that Nick wrote up his research, and for his past assistance.
Cheers,
Tony
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Resurrected seeking further input on the usage of the funeral banner.
Regards,
Tony
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Used at the funeral service entry way. This practice is still done:
-- Guy
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