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#1 2008-11-21 19:02:32

Bruce
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From: San Diego
Registered: 2006-12-10
Posts: 65
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Myoan or Meian?

Which is the preferred romanji: Myoan or Meian?  (some third variation?)

And what makes that particular spelling the preferred version?

thanks


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#2 2008-11-22 00:41:04

Riley Lee
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From: Manly NSW Australia
Registered: 2005-10-08
Posts: 78
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Re: Myoan or Meian?

Both Meian and Myôan are correct. Basically personal preference makes one or the other the preferred version.  In the Kansai (Kyoto/Osaka) area in the 1970s, one heard/saw Meian the most. Now, one hears/sees Myôan as often. The first character of the word can be read either way.

According to my Japanese-English Kanji dictionary, there are over 15 different pronunciations for the character 明 depending on the context: mei, myô, min, a, aka, aki, akira, ake, asu, kira, ke, saya, sayaka, toshi, haru, mi, me.

However one pronounces it, the character still means light or bright, or something to do with light. The character is itself a combination of two characters 日 'sun' and 月 'moon'.

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#3 2008-11-22 19:32:09

Yungflutes
Flutemaker/Performer
From: New York City
Registered: 2005-10-08
Posts: 1061
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Re: Myoan or Meian?

Hi Bruce, I was speaking with Saori San at Mejiro once and we were talking about Myoan music or maybe a concert. Then she said something like, "They also spell it Meian don't they?"

Thanks for clearing that up Riley, - Perry


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