Japanese culture is rich in mythology and symbolism, and words that describe mystical and spiritual beings are an integral part of this heritage. In this article, we'll explore how to say "angel" in Japanese and examine the cultural and historical context of this word.
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Angel in Japanese: 天使 (tenshi)
The Japanese word for "angel" is "天使" (tenshi), which is made up of two Kanji characters:
- 天 (Ten): This character means "heaven" or "divine" and is used to describe things related to heaven, such as climate or heavenly phenomena, as well as divine or sacred elements.
- 使 (Shi): This character means "messenger" or "emissary" and is used to indicate someone who performs tasks or takes messages on behalf of someone else or entity.
Together, the characters form the word "天使" (tenshi), which literally means "heavenly messenger" or "divine messenger". As with other cultures, angels in Japan are seen as heavenly beings who serve the gods and perform divine tasks.
Other Ways to Say Angel in Japanese
神使 (shinshi): This word also means "divine messenger" or "heavenly emissary" and is composed of the characters "神" (shin), which means "God" or "Spirit", and "使" (Shi), which means "messenger" or " emissary". "神使" (Shinki) can be used to refer to heavenly beings similar to angels, especially in the context of Shinto.
天人 (tennin): "天人" (Tennin) is another word that can be used to describe heavenly or divine beings. The term is composed of the characters "天" (Ten), which means "heaven" or "divine", and "人" (nin), which means "person". "天人" (Tennin) can be translated as "heavenly person" or "divine person" and is used mainly in the context of Buddhism to refer to heavenly beings who reside in the superior kingdoms of the Buddhist universe.
Seraphim (セラフィム, Serafimu): Seraphim are considered the highest class of angels, and are known for their closeness to God and for constantly praising and worshiping the deity.
Cherubim (ケルビム, Kerubimu): Cherubs are the second highest order of angels and are often portrayed as children with wings. They are associated with divine wisdom and knowledge.
Archangels (大天使, Daitenshi): Archangels are high-ranking angels who serve as divine messengers and leaders of other angels.
Cultural and historical context
While the concept of angels is most commonly associated with Christian traditions, Japan has its own interpretation of angel-like celestial beings. In Shinto, Japan's native religion, there are many gods and spirits known as "神" (kami), which can be seen as equivalent to angels in terms of spiritual beings residing in heaven or the spirit world.
However, the word “天使” (tenshi) itself is an import from Buddhism, which arrived in Japan around the 6th century AD and incorporated concepts of heavenly and divine beings similar to the angels of Christianity. In Buddhism, there are several categories of celestial beings, such as “菩薩” (bosatsu), which are enlightened beings that help human beings in their spiritual journey.
