A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

Buddhist Names of Plants
and Animals
AT
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one time I hoped to compile a glossary of
the Buddhist names given to Japanese
animals and plants ; and I began to col-
lect material for the work. But I then knew very
little about the real difficulties of such an under-
taking. To mention only one, I may observe
that in almost every province of Japan the folk-
speech is diiferent; and the difference appears
even in the names given to certain plants, insects,
reptiles, fishes, and birds. Such names must be
learned, of course, from the lips of peasants and
of fishermen ; and that which 1 wished to do
could never be well done except through the
patient labors of a folklore society. And now 1
find that, instead of being able to prepare the
glossary intended, I must content myself with a
few general notes upon the subject.
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