Translation and Meaning of: 手本 - tehon

Explanation and Etymology - (手本) tehon

手本 (てほん) It is a Japanese word that can be divided into two parts: 手 (て), which means "hand", and 本 (ほん), which can have several meanings, such as "book", "model" or "standard". Together, these two parts form the meaning of "writing model", "example of handwriting" or "writing pattern". The etymology of the word 手本 dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), when writing was considered an art and handwriting was highly valued. At this time, the Caligraphs used models to practice their writing and improve their skills. These models were called 手本 and were usually written by renowned Caligropos. Over time, the word 手本 is used to refer to any type of model or pattern, not just for handwriting. Currently, the word 手本 is commonly used in educational and professional contexts, such as instruction manuals or in handwriting classes. It can also be used in expressions such as 手本を見る (read a model), 手本を作る (create a model) or 手本にする (use as a model).