My Neofinetia story, with a hokage in flower

[Red Orchid]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

You are going to love those two plants: Hisui 翡翠 "Jade" and the Nishidemiyako 西出都 "West Gate of Kyoto". I have been working on getting all three languages involved in the discussion--Romanji, Kanji, and English. The English is sometimes cumbersome.

Matt you are really doing your research....fantastic! I just struggle trying to pronounce the Japanese names.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Red Orchid

Matt you are really doing your research....fantastic! I just struggle trying to pronounce the -Japanese names.

Thanks Ginger. Rather than spending time on eBay or elsewhere trying to figure out how I can spend money on another Neofinetia, I have been reading up on the Romanji and Kanji translations. In fact, I'm going to take a class on beginning Japanese in September at the local college here in Fort Wayne.

Regarding how to say Japanese words...if you are familiar with Spanish, Romanji uses similar rules. For example, "Higashidemiyako" is pronounced hee-gah-shee-deh-me-yah-ko. Every vowel is pronounced, usually stressing the third syllable. If you see two vowels together, use the rule "when two vowels go walking, the last one does the talking".

Probably more than you wanted to know--my coffee just kicked in! and now it is time to go to church! TTFN

[Red Orchid]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Thanks Ginger. Rather than spending time on eBay or elsewhere trying to figure out how I can spend money on another Neofinetia, I have been reading up on the Romanji and Kanji translations. In fact, I'm going to take a class on beginning Japanese in September at the local college here in Fort Wayne.
TTFN

Oh wow taking the Japanese class is so smart you will soon be able to understand the Neo web sites from Japan. I continue to be impressed with you & your passion for this hobby. Enjoy!

[rangiku]

Nishidemiyako 西出都 also means west side of the capitol (Kyoto) back when Kyoto, not Tokyo, was the capitol. Higishidemiyako 東出都 means east side of the capitol (Kyoto).

Vowels in Japanese are pronounced exactly as they are in Romance languages such as French and Spanish. Typically, each syllable is equally stressed in a word; however if there are two of the same vowels in a row, then that syllable is stressed. For example, with onee-chan, the stress is on the nee. This non-stressing of syllables is tough for those of us who speak American English.

[dries666]

I must say I love my japanese classes, but I haven't had any difficulties pronouncing it up until now. I'm going to start my third year of evening classes of japanese next september and I already know the hiragana, katakana and 50 kanji signs, but I doubt I'll ever be able to understand the japanese websites... somethimes it's not so much a question if u can read it, because that still doesn't make u understand what it says.... only when u know a lot of kanji u start to see patterns in the more complex combined kanji and then u might be able to deduct the meaning of the symbol from what u already know. But hey give it a try, it's fun and u learn lots of stuff with the culture incorporated in some of the classes... or that's the way they do it here.

Oh and my home made pots from fimo clay seem to be breaking! I don't know why but one has a vertical split through and through all of a sudden and another one is showing cracks in its design (from the holes in the sides, the weakest points) I think it might be a matter of temperature where the sun makes the material grow or shrink and that combined with the force of the moss expanding when wet might be the cause of this. I'm kind of sad though, I have put some effort in making those pots .

[Red Orchid]

Originally Posted by dries666

I must say I love my japanese classes, but I haven't had any difficulties pronouncing it up until now. I'm going to start my third year of evening classes of japanese next september and I already know the hiragana, katakana and 50 kanji signs, but I doubt I'll ever be able to understand the japanese websites... somethimes it's not so much a question if u can read it, because that still doesn't make u understand what it says.... only when u know a lot of kanji u start to see patterns in the more complex combined kanji and then u might be able to deduct the meaning of the symbol from what u already know. But hey give it a try, it's fun and u learn lots of stuff with the culture incorporated in some of the classes... or that's the way they do it here.

Oh and my home made pots from fimo clay seem to be breaking! I don't know why but one has a vertical split through and through all of a sudden and another one is showing cracks in its design (from the holes in the sides, the weakest points) I think it might be a matter of temperature where the sun makes the material grow or shrink and that combined with the force of the moss expanding when wet might be the cause of this. I'm kind of sad though, I have put some effort in making those pots .

Congrats on the 3 years of study of Japanese.... Really sorry about the pots breaking. I haven't had any of that so far but you are the second person to mention it. I remember reading somewhere that you have to really prepare the clay or it will break. Don't know if this is the problem am just so sorry as you do put a lot of work into those pots.

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by rangiku

Nishidemiyako 西出都 also means west side of the capitol (Kyoto) back when Kyoto, not Tokyo, was the capitol. Higishidemiyako 東出都 means east side of the capitol (Kyoto).

I have always thought these names are weird, but the phrase "西出都" is a part of a very famous Chinese poem "長恨歌" by 白居易 (Bai Juyi).
From Japanese Wikipedia (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%95%...%A8%E6%AD%8C):
翠華搖搖行復止、西出都門百餘里
I am not going to translate the first part, but the latter part means "It is over 100 miles west of the capital gate."

Remember, these were supposedly grown by rich and noble people? Many of them were "cultured," and familiar with both Chinese and Japanese literature. This is a reason that direct translation may not work in many cases. Myself isn't all that cultured, and found this out after Googling.

As for "東出都," it is probably like a word play. "西出都" was found in Kyoto Prefecture, and "東出都" in Shiga Prefecture. Yes, these names are general reference to where they were found, but current translation for these sound bit surreal or even absurd.

[Red Orchid]

Originally Posted by kentaki

I have always thought these names are weird, but the phrase "西出都" is a part of a very famous Chinese poem "長恨歌" by 白居易 (Bai Juyi).
From Japanese Wikipedia (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%95%...%A8%E6%AD%8C):
翠華搖搖行復止、西出都門百餘里
I am not going to translate the first part, but the latter part means "It is over 100 miles west of the capital gate."

Remember, these were supposedly grown by rich and noble people? Many of them were "cultured," and familiar with both Chinese and Japanese literature. This is a reason that direct translation may not work in many cases. Myself isn't all that cultured, and found this out after Googling.

As for "東出都," it is probably like a word play. "西出都" was found in Kyoto Prefecture, and "東出都" in Shiga Prefecture. Yes, these names are general reference to where they were found, but current translation for these sound bit surreal or even absurd.

I love the work you've done researching the language we learn so much just from the name. Matt is another one of our researchers he posts good stuff as well. Tracy holds the knowledge as well and a beautiful collection of Neos. This place rocks with Neo info, enthusiasm and your collection will grow.

[GardenTheater]

Very nice collection. Thanks for showing them here.

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Driees, too bad about your pots. They look really good in your photos. I am not a pot expert, Ginger is one of our potters, and she has blessed me with a very lovey pot. I keep my Higashidemiyako 東出都 "East Side of Kyoto" in it. The other potter, I think you referred to him in a previous thread, he goes by Pilot. He has a thread discussing pottery for Neofinetia.

The pot that Ginger (Red Orchid) gave me, the walls of the pot is about an eighth of an inch think (sorry I don't have metric equivalent). The pot has a very large hole at the bottom and only six holes along the sides--two sets of three holes opposite. Here is a picture of this pot. I am a Baseball Cubby Fan, my Higashidemiyako 東出都 "East Side of Kyoto" really fits this pot.