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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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128 <strong>Japanese</strong> Miscellany<br />

More curious than any <strong>of</strong> the above terms, how-<br />

ever, is the popular name for a species <strong>of</strong> grain-<br />

weevil, Koku^o, — " Kokuzo " being the <strong>Japanese</strong><br />

appellation <strong>of</strong> the great Bodhisattva AkSsapra-<br />

tishthita.<br />

The term Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) also appears<br />

in some plant-names. A variety <strong>of</strong> rose is<br />

known as the Bosatsu-ibara, or " Thorny-Rose<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Bodhisattva"; and a kind <strong>of</strong> rice is<br />

called Bosatsu.<br />

The term Rakan (Arhat) forms a prefix to<br />

several plant-names. Rahan-haku, or " Arhat's<br />

oak," is the popular name <strong>of</strong> the Thuya dolo-<br />

brata. Rahan-sbo, or "Arhat's Pine," is the<br />

common appellation <strong>of</strong> the Podocarpus macro-<br />

phylla; and the name Rakan-maki, or " Arhat's<br />

mahi " (" maki " being the <strong>Japanese</strong> name for<br />

the podocarpus chinensis) — has been given to<br />

the umbrella-pine. And the fruit <strong>of</strong> a tree, <strong>of</strong><br />

which I cannot find the scientific name, is called in<br />

several provinces Rakan, or " the Arhat," because<br />

it curiously resembles in shape the rude stone<br />

images <strong>of</strong> Arhats set up in temple-gardens.<br />

Kukai, or Kobodaishi, the great <strong>Japanese</strong> patri-<br />

arch <strong>of</strong> the Shingon sect, also has a place in this

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