川
stream · river · river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47)
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
River (base form)
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of flowing river. Three lines represent water currents.
Symbolism
Flow, boundary, journey. Represents life's passage 'like a river flowing'.
Spiritual Meaning
Symbol of purifying water in Shinto. River flow washes away defilement. Sanzu River represents the spiritual boundary between this world and the afterlife.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Murmuring of a river
Games
釣りスピリッツ
Fishing Spirits(2011)
Developer: Bandai Namco
Hands-on fishing game in 'rivers' and seas.
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
山川草木
さんせんそうもく
nature; natural scenery; nature
Proverbs & Idioms
川の流れのように
かわのながれのように
Like the flow of a river
Going with the flow naturally
Poetry
つくばねの 峰より落つる みなの川 こひぞつもりて 淵となりぬる
Poem #13 from Hyakunin Isshu
ちはやぶる 神代もきかず 竜田川 からくれなゐに 水くくるとは
Poem #17 from Hyakunin Isshu
みかの原 わきて流るる いづみ川 いつみきとてか 恋しかるらむ
Poem #27 from Hyakunin Isshu
山川に 風のかけたる しがらみは 流れもあへぬ 紅葉なりけり
Poem #32 from Hyakunin Isshu
朝ぼらけ 宇治の川霧 たえだえに あらはれわたる 瀬々の網代木
Poem #64 from Hyakunin Isshu
あらし吹く み室の山の もみぢ葉は 竜田の川の 錦なりけり
Poem #69 from Hyakunin Isshu
瀬をはやみ 岩にせかるる 滝川の われても末に あはむとぞ思ふ
Poem #77 from Hyakunin Isshu
風そよぐ ならの小川の 夕暮れは みそぎぞ夏の しるしなりける
Poem #98 from Hyakunin Isshu