日本思想の地平と水脈

English translation: Contours and Currents of Japanese Thought

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:日本思想の地平と水脈
English translation:Contours and Currents of Japanese Thought
Entered by: Roddy Stegemann

15:10 Nov 12, 2009
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History / Name of Journal Series
Japanese term or phrase: 日本思想の地平と水脈
This appears to be the name of a book published by ペリカん社 It is in this book that the article entitled 被占領心理 appears (see previous entry).

Any suggestions for a translation?
Roddy Stegemann
United States
Local time: 10:34
Landscape and undercurrents of thoughts in modern Japan
Explanation:
Content of the book is found on ref website below (short though). The given title is grand, but actually it seems like a compilation of articles - just to assemble them into 'a book' anyhow.

+I think 'landscape' is fine. But 'underground' is probably baseless. Undercurrents or strands - safer bet.
+And it's not really about 'thoughts' - it's more about 'ideas' or concepts (found within someone's thought [system]). But as far as the source text says "思想" - we aren't allowed to use 'concepts'.

(Landscape and undercurrents of concepts in modern Japan - is probably most close to its substance. )

Still it sounds all too grand. A reader/researcher who gets attracted to the title would be more likely to be disappointed when she/he actually opens the book...
Selected response from:

xcoder
United States
Local time: 10:34
Grading comment
As before, I would like to thank everyone for their useful input, but am awarding Akio for both her research and analysis. Unlike Akio, I am unable to access the perikansha.com domain from my location in Korea and greatly appreciate her having been able to explore this avenue on my behalf.

My own analysis and conclusion are based on the information provided by Akio and others:

1)) On the one hand, the term 地平 appears to be an abbreviation for 地平線 which, in turn, can be substituted with the term 水平線 (horizon). On the other hand, the term 地平 appears to be a term in its own right and has to do with the undulating shape of the earth's surface -- namely, the contours (landscape) of the earth's surface.

2) The term 水脈 can refer to underwater currents (みお), as well as, underground water currents (すいみゃく). In addition, it can also refer to the paths that ships follow or leave on the water's surface. What all of these terms share in common is movement along a path.

3) Although the term undercurrents matches well the substance of the Kawashima article of my previous post on 被占領心理, the book in which the article is apparently contained appears to be much broader in scope. Thus, I am not at all convinced that the juxtaposition of word pairs like visible and invisible, and above and below are appropriate in this context.

4) The term 思想 does not appear to be very problematic, as the two characters are nearly synonymous in meaning. In fact, one can write 思う and 想うto indicate the same notion -- namely, おもう. In short, the debate between thought, ideology, and mindset may or may not be important. Unfortunately, I cannot know without a copy of the book in front of me.

Finally, the title that I have chosen is literary, neutral, and in keeping with the vocabulary of the editor's Japanese title.

Roddy

3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8The Horizon and Undercurrents of Japanese Thought
Dr. M. S. Niranjan
4 +1Landscape and water vein of the Japanese mind
Roderick Anderson
3The Visible Areas and Underground Currents of the Japanese Thought
rek
3Landscape and undercurrents of thoughts in modern Japan
xcoder


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The Visible Areas and Underground Currents of the Japanese Thought


Explanation:
A metaphorical use of two terms: chihei, referring to areas, spaces etc, that are visible and suimyaku that means underground currents

rek
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:34
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Charlesp: nice explaination - title ok as a secondary choice
2 hrs
  -> thank you, I know what you mean, I just could not come up with anything more 'attractive'
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Landscape and water vein of the Japanese mind


Explanation:
Please see links

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-12 16:36:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The English is a bit dodgy but...

There are several links for this book in Google.

Here is another link:

http://read.jst.go.jp/public/cs_ksh_008EventAction.do?action...


    Reference: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40425660
Roderick Anderson
Japan
Local time: 02:34
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Raitei: Most of the titles are dodgy but we have to use them anyway.
2 days 12 hrs
  -> Thanks.
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Landscape and undercurrents of thoughts in modern Japan


Explanation:
Content of the book is found on ref website below (short though). The given title is grand, but actually it seems like a compilation of articles - just to assemble them into 'a book' anyhow.

+I think 'landscape' is fine. But 'underground' is probably baseless. Undercurrents or strands - safer bet.
+And it's not really about 'thoughts' - it's more about 'ideas' or concepts (found within someone's thought [system]). But as far as the source text says "思想" - we aren't allowed to use 'concepts'.

(Landscape and undercurrents of concepts in modern Japan - is probably most close to its substance. )

Still it sounds all too grand. A reader/researcher who gets attracted to the title would be more likely to be disappointed when she/he actually opens the book...


    Reference: http://www.perikansha.co.jp/new2/Search.cgi?mode=SHOW&code=1...
xcoder
United States
Local time: 10:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
As before, I would like to thank everyone for their useful input, but am awarding Akio for both her research and analysis. Unlike Akio, I am unable to access the perikansha.com domain from my location in Korea and greatly appreciate her having been able to explore this avenue on my behalf.

My own analysis and conclusion are based on the information provided by Akio and others:

1)) On the one hand, the term 地平 appears to be an abbreviation for 地平線 which, in turn, can be substituted with the term 水平線 (horizon). On the other hand, the term 地平 appears to be a term in its own right and has to do with the undulating shape of the earth's surface -- namely, the contours (landscape) of the earth's surface.

2) The term 水脈 can refer to underwater currents (みお), as well as, underground water currents (すいみゃく). In addition, it can also refer to the paths that ships follow or leave on the water's surface. What all of these terms share in common is movement along a path.

3) Although the term undercurrents matches well the substance of the Kawashima article of my previous post on 被占領心理, the book in which the article is apparently contained appears to be much broader in scope. Thus, I am not at all convinced that the juxtaposition of word pairs like visible and invisible, and above and below are appropriate in this context.

4) The term 思想 does not appear to be very problematic, as the two characters are nearly synonymous in meaning. In fact, one can write 思う and 想うto indicate the same notion -- namely, おもう. In short, the debate between thought, ideology, and mindset may or may not be important. Unfortunately, I cannot know without a copy of the book in front of me.

Finally, the title that I have chosen is literary, neutral, and in keeping with the vocabulary of the editor's Japanese title.

Roddy
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
The Horizon and Undercurrents of Japanese Thought


Explanation:
Just an alternative suggestion. Here is one more suggestion:
The Vision and Undercurrents of Japanese Thinking (or Thought).

Well, again the title need not be too specific.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2009-11-12 23:40:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hmm, Humbird-san, Ideology would be going too far, I think. As Akio-san has commented, the book does not seem to be worth its title.
Further, horizon can very well be fuzzy and undercurrents can hardly be tangible. Also, 思想 in Japan quite often is somewhat emotional and need not always be based on concrete theory, concepts, or philosophy, but may be a subjective conjecture by some authors or persons. "Thought" here can be interpreted as the reader desires, from quasi-emotional "thinking" to "Concepts" or "Ideology". That is why I thought that this title would be good even if some of you may call it too grandiose or too vague. Hope I am not too wrong!

Dr. M. S. Niranjan
India
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charlesp: This sounds the best.
29 mins

agree  humbird: Sounds most appropriate. However I'd like to suggest "ideology" in place of "thought".
4 hrs

agree  Yumico Tanaka (X): Regarding "undercurrents", I like it better than "currents", because it helps visualize water running underneath earth and/or above. Currents only could be anything from air to electricity, in my mind.
4 hrs

agree  Carl Freire: Stick with "thought"--"ideology" carries too much baggage. Also, make it "Horizons." But why "undercurrents"--just "currents" will do.
5 hrs

agree  Joyce A: A very fitting title, indeed.
5 hrs

agree  Tokyo_Moscow: sounds good
8 hrs

agree  Minoru Kuwahara
9 hrs

agree  Tomo Fuji: I like "Horizon." I would use mindset for 思想 (thought seems too light in this case) and "currents" for 水脈 as Carl suggests.
1 day 8 hrs
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