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Bundle 3: Sounds, Sanskrit, and Statues

To represent certain sounds with kanji, ancient people had particular go-to characters. Thus, these four kanji contribute yomi (rather than meaning) to many place names (including Nara, Kanagawa, Naha, a term for "China," and some mythical locations) and to plenty of religious words transliterated from Sanskrit. Buddhism takes center stage in all four essays, two of which contrast massive statues of Vairocana Buddha and Amitabha Buddha in Nara and Kamakura respectively. Surprisingly, three kinds of noodles pop up along the way!
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刹
temple
JOK: 2019
Find out about how 刹 (temple) once meant “to kill”! Learn about a shady network of Buddhist temples in the past. Discover how long a moment of consciousness is, and learn to say, “The moment I wasn’t looking, the accident occurred.” Also find out how to say, “I’m the sort of person who lives for the moment,” and how you can aggrandize this lifestyle by calling it a principle.
那
what?
JOK: 2084
Find out about everything from the Okinawan capital to Japan’s largest waterfall. Discover the principle of living in the moment. See when to use or not use a term for “China.” Learn to distinguish Vairocana Buddha from Amitabha Buddha. Meet Shinto gods who created Japan. And find out how to say, "Despite the business owner's guidance, his son had no interest in the business at all."
奈
Nara
JOK: 2085
A hiragana was created from 奈. This kanji helps people talk about hellish situations, but that’s not why a book about Kanagawa is subtitled “Towns That Suck, Towns That People Hate.” The Jetsons apparently influenced 8th-century Nara architecture. There have been at least 17 kanji renderings of the name なら. Find out about all these topics and much more in this image-rich essay.
弥
increasingly
JOK: 2120
Discover the shocking roots of the language and people of Japan (i.e., Yayoi versus Jomon). Find out about Buddhist figures and terms that have eluded you. And learn to say, “They hooted at his suggestion,” “That makes you even more attractive,” “That’s nothing more than a temporary remedy,” and “The origins of (certain) kanji will make your hair stand on end with fear.”
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