A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

126 Japanese Miscellany
But perhaps these notes — relics of an under-
taking for which I possessed neither the requisite
scholarship nor the means— will have at least
a suggestive worth to future explorers in this
unfamiliar region of Far-Eastern folklore.
*
* *
The name Buddha appears in the appellations
of several trees and plants. Marubushukan, or
" Round-Fingers-of-Buddha," is the name of a
kind of lemon-tree, — so called from the very re-
markable shape of its fruit. The Chinese hibis-
cus is called Bussoge, or " Buddha's mulberry "
and a variety of rock-moss is popularly known
by the picturesque names of Hotoke-no-tsume
and Bukkosd. — hoih. signifying "Finger-nails of
Buddha." A kind of yam is called Tsuhune-imo,
— which appellation, as written with the proper
Chinese characters, signifies " Buddha's-hand po-
tato " ; and a variety of clover is honored by the
name Hotoke-no-ia, or " Buddha's-throne."
Names of Bodhisattvas and of other Buddhist
divinities are also to be found in the appellations
of plants and animals. The name of Kwannon
(Avalokitesvara) appears in the term Kwannon-
;