Pillar - The 1,300 Year-Old Counter Word
A pair of glasses, pants, trousers and scissors… In this context, the word “pair” is a sort of counter word in English. Do you know the counter word for these nouns in Japanese?
Answer => They are counted with the word 本 (hon) [although 挺 or 丁 (cho) is the more conventional counter for scissors].
There are actually a lot more counter words (#助数詞) in Japanese than in English and they are very complicated (just like in Chinese).
Even native speakers sometimes need to think twice to find the right counters for extraordinary and even less extraordinary items. That’s why more and more counter words have become obsolete.
Here is a small test for you. Would you be able to ask for these at the fishmongers in Japan?
One HON (本) of Sanma (sword fish)
One MAI (枚) of Hirame (flat fish)
One O (尾) of Iwashi (sardines)
One SAKU (柵) of Maguro: a rectangular slice of tuna fish
One PAI (杯/HAI) of Ika (squid) : イカ 一杯 is not “full of [I-PPAI] squid” but one [I-PPAI] squid.😉
One HARA (腹) of Tarakako (cod roe)
That wasn’t much of a challenge for you?
Well then, do you know what the following counter word is used for?
柱 (HASHIRA = a pillar)
Answer => It is used to count God or dead souls.
You hardly hear this counter word nowadays. But I was constantly reminded of this counter when reading KOJIKI: Records of Ancient Matters (#古事記).
Most recently, I read it in an avant-garde transcreation by Ko Machida (#町田康). For the sake of comparison, I looked at an orthodox translation of #KOJIKI published by Shogakukan (A Compendium of Classical Japanese Literature, 日本古典文学全集, 1973).
Yes, the counter word “pillar” frequently pops up in both versions.
Considering that the said mythical chronicle was written in 712 B.C., I have to take back my previous statement that counter words have fallen out of fashion.
Original (complied by O no Yasumaro, 太安万侶) :
此二柱神 亦並独神座而 隠身也
Translation (by萩原浅夫in the Schogakukan-Compendium):
この二柱の神もまた、ともに単身神としてお成りになってお姿を見せることはなかった。
Translation by Ko Machida:
この二柱の神も一対ではなく単独で此の世に力を及ぼす神で、その身体を隠した。
After all, the habit of counting God with a pillar has survived over 1,300 years!
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