門松

Japanese
門松 (kadomatsu): a pair of pine branch decorations for a gate, set out for New Years.
Kanji in this term
門 松
かど
Grade: 2		 まつ
Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Etymology

Compound of 門 (kado, “gate”) +‎ 松 (matsu, “pine”).[1][2]

Although the term literally means just gate pine, bamboo became part of the traditional design starting from roughly the Kamakura or Muromachi periods. Compare the symbolism of the evergreen pine Christmas tree as a representation of life in the midst of winter.

Pronunciation
  • (Tokyo) かど​まつ [kàdóꜜmàtsù] (Nakadaka – [2])[2]
  • (Tokyo) かどまつ [kàdómátsú] (Heiban – [0])[2]
  • IPA(key): [ka̠do̞ma̠t͡sɨᵝ]

Noun

門(かど)松(まつ) • (kadomatsu) 

  1. a traditional decoration placed in pairs in front of homes in celebration of New Years

See also

References
  1. Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  2. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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