I freely admit that I am not an expert on Fkiran. But I was born and grew up in Japan. I have been torturing orchids for over three decades. I have degrees in horticulture and plant related areas.
Frankly, some of the translated names are bizarre. A part of reason is that the naming system (if there is one) is substantially different from how other orchids are named. After all, these are 東洋蘭 Ty Ran, and thus more of "classic" plants.
Another reason is that whoever attempted to translate does not have enough knowledge in both English and Japanese. It is a complex situation, and won't be resolved over night. It is my attempt to provide correct information on names. Comments and criticism welcomed.
I will start with ones on Fukiran Society of America (this is a bit odd spelling to me) :
Fukiran Names - Fukiran Society of America
1. Amanogawa - River of Heaven
How could they miss this one? This is a great example of direct translation. Amanogawa is "Milky Way."
天の川 - Wikipedia
2. Aojiku - Green Axis
This one is more or less right. It is just "axis" sound a bit too anatomical to me. Yes, it means shoot axis, but to me, jiku is more like "stem."
3. Asahiden - Rising Sun Lord
This is another very wrong one. If 朝日殿 is pronounced "Asahitono" or "Asahidono," it is more or less correct although it would be likely a "Lady" as opposed to "Lord." But in this case, the character "殿" is pronounced "den" as in 清涼殿 or 紫宸殿. In that case, 殿 means a structure or building (usually big and luxurious) that noble (and/or rich) people are present. Palace may be the closest one I can think of. Asahi means morning sun and does not necessarily has to be the rising sun, but I could compromise. I suggest "Rising Sun Palace" or "Palace of the Rising Sun).
4. Daisekai - Big Sacred Sea
I prefer "Great Sacred Sea" or "Great Sacred Ocean." It sounds a little more natural in English. No?
5. Fugaku - Mount Fuji
This is not necessarily "wrong," but not quite "accurate" or "correct." Fugaku is like an alternate name for Mt. Fuji. To me, it is like translating Hoosier Orchid Company as Indiana Orchid Company.
6. Gekkeikan - Laurel Crown
This one is right. 冠/Kan (Crown) is also a word that is often used in "classic" plants such as
Calanthe sieblodii 'kan" or
Dendrobium Ise 'San Kan' .' You could argue if
Dendrobium Ise is considered "classic" or not, though.
7. Gojyo Fukurin - Castle Fukurin
This one does not make sense at all. As you should know "Fukurin" is a type of (marginal/picotee) variegation. 御/Go of 御城 is a particle (?) to show respect to the following word, 城/jy (castle). Why does this plant have a reference to a castle? This particular cultivar was found growing on rock wall of Matsusaka Castle, Mie Prefecture:
Matsusaka Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Throughout most of the Edo period, Matsusaka Castle was a secondary administrative center for the Kishu-Tokugawa clan, daimyō of Kishū Domain."
No wonder why the person who named this cultivar had to show respect.
I am getting tired, so this is it for now.
Re-working on Fkiran names
Threaded Mode
