phonetic | |||
---|---|---|---|
trad. (魔羅) | 魔 | 羅 | |
simp. (魔罗) | 魔 | 罗 | |
alternative forms | 摩羅/摩罗 |
From Sanskrit मार (māra, “killing; death; destroyer; demon”).
魔羅
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
From Middle Chinese 魔羅 (muɑ lɑ), in turn a transcription of Sanskrit मार (Māra, “the Destroyer, the Evil One”).[1][2][3][4][5] The kanji are phonetic ateji (当て字) applied when transcribing the Sanskrit into Middle Chinese.
The shift from "Buddhist evil demon" to "penis" was originally slang use among monks,[1][2][3][4] in reference to sexual desires distracting one from the path to enlightenment.
Some sources link this term to 放る (maru, “to excrete”).[1][2] However, the verb maru refers to "excreting" bodily wastes in general, not just urination but also defecation, and some sources also list flatulation as an included sense.[4] In addition, other nouns attested from Old Japanese that derive from verbs and end in -a appear to be the result of the action of the verb, which does not fit this case. Ultimately, the proposed connection between Sanskrit-derived mara ("penis") and Japonic-derived maru ("to excrete") appears to be a folk etymology, likely arising from the superficial similarity in forms.
First attested in the Nihon Ryōiki, in a section dated to the early 800s.[1]
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
らー Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (marā)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)
Kanji in this term | |
---|---|
魔 | 羅 |
ま Grade: S |
ら Grade: S |
on'yomi |
Alternative spelling |
---|
摩羅 |
Cognate with Japanese 魔羅 (mara).
魔羅 (mara)