85921
I browsed Wikipedia and found that the kunyomi of the earthly branches and
those of the corresponding animal zodiac look alike. Still there are some
difference, e.g., 子(ね rather than ねずみ) and 巳 (み rather than へび). Does anyone
know the origin of the difference? (Especially the 巳/蛇 one)
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2021-04-02T04:54:02.133
85904
2021-04-03T05:54:11.400
38439
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readings
十二支の訓読みと十二生肖について
When 十二支 was introduced into Japan, there was already zodiac mnemonics
established in China, so all kun'yomi are animal names.

  * 子【ね】: abbreviation of ねずみ "mouse/rat"
  * 卯【う】: abbreviation or original word form (disputed) of うさぎ "rabbit/hare"
  * 巳【み】: abbreviation of old word form [へみ](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%B8%E3%81%BF/) "snake" (now へび)
  * 亥【い】: original word form い (ゐ) "wild boar" (いのしし literally means "boar-beast")

An interesting case is 未【ひつじ】 = 羊, as sheep are not native in Japan, its
Japanese name is reversely taken from the time in a day 未 represents: 1 PM—3
PM. Since this is the afternoon period when the sun goes from above to
downward, it is called ひ "sun" + つじ "corner".
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-03T05:54:11.400
85921
2021-04-03T05:54:11.400
7810
85904
answer