May 11, 2008 17:32
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Japanese term

彼岸と此岸

Japanese to English Art/Literary Religion
i would like to translate this as an atonym. like "heaven and earth"
would this be possible?
please help thank you.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 It depends

Proposed translations

+3
1 hr
Selected

It depends

It really depends on your context!
This is a pair of opposites, 彼岸 being 'the farther shore' which in Buddhism symbolizes enlightenment/nirvana, overcoming the illusory world of opposites. I think more generally it also connotes death/ the next life.
此岸 is the real world, the mundane world, the world of people not free from illusion, etc.
In Buddhism I think these could be translated as Nirvana and Samsara.
Heaven and Earth obviously overlap with these concepts, and if you are looking for a broad cultural equivalent rather than religious accuracy, then they might be acceptable.
Peer comment(s):

agree Duncan Adam : Yes, generally this side and the other side of the line separating life from death or enlightenment from unenlightenment, but with all kinds of interpretations possible depending on context.
26 mins
agree Mari Nagaoka Mendez (X) : I think Steven and Duncan both explained it beautifully.
21 hrs
agree humbird : Yes it depends. Depending whether you are talking about Buddhism or Christianity or something else.
21 hrs
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