Where the idea came from and the meaning
2006-09-27 16:39:15 · 12 answers · asked by aj 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
that is the direct translation of the word "Japan" in both Chinese and Japanese. In other word Japan means "the land of the rising sun" in both Chinese and Japanese. Note: the big red sun on the Japanese flag. And of course, Japan is due East of China.
2006-09-27 16:50:25 · answer #1 · answered by sharpshooter 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Europeans called Japan the "Land of the Rising sun" because, before they had thoroughly explored the Pacific (notably Cook and his discovery of what was meant to be the easternmost land, Hawaii), they called it that, because, as the Sun rises in the East, and Japan being the Easternmost nation know, it was called the land of the rising sun. Even after lands, and Islands (West of the Int'l date line,) people, who were so used to call Japan the Land of the Rising sun, kept calling it its famous nickname.
2006-09-28 10:07:19 · answer #2 · answered by Jean-Paul J 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"^ The characters that make up Japan's name literally mean "Sun's Origin", thus Japan is also known as "The Land of the Rising Sun", a name that comes from the country's eastward position relative to China."
2006-09-27 23:43:04 · answer #3 · answered by dreamer123 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The sun rises in the East!
Japan is on the easternmost edge of the Old World.
2006-09-27 23:41:34 · answer #4 · answered by A Box of Signs 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
JAPAN IS KNOWN AS THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN BECAUSE THE SUN RISES FIRST IN JAPAN (IN THE WORLD).
2006-09-27 23:44:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
because back when people didn't know the earth was round, they believed japan was the end of the world: the most eastern part of the world. and the sun rises in the east :)
2006-09-28 03:02:34 · answer #6 · answered by ilya 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The sun sets in Flagstaff, Arizona, where it slips into a nearby canyon passage which then leads to a series of vast underground caves which extend all the way under the Pacific Ocean to Japan. It then emergers out of Mt. Fuji in the morning. Who doesn't know this?
Love Jack
2006-09-28 00:00:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nippon is the native name for Japan, derived from Dai Nippon, meaning Great Japan. Further derived from a Chinese ideograph (characters) meaning the place where the sun comes from, or "Land of the Rising Sun." As they knew of no islands more Easterly than Japan.
2006-09-27 23:52:54 · answer #8 · answered by Andrew C 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
According to Shinto creation myth, Japan was created by Amaterasu the sun goddess. Her great great grandson become the first emperor, and his descendent still sits on the throne to this day.
2006-09-27 23:58:29 · answer #9 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well because ther the first to see the sun every day since its in the east
2006-09-27 23:43:17 · answer #10 · answered by madmonkey138 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋