Point of interest: 羽（わ）

The Origin Mystery

ゆらい

由来

の

なぞ

謎

The origin story behind the adoption of

わ

羽

to count rabbits is a mystery. How the counter

わ

羽

, also read as

はね

羽

(meaning wing/s) came to be used for a wingless animal draws curiosity from Japanese and non-Japanese alike.

In this article we will look at three prevailing theories about the origin of the counter

わ

羽

for counting rabbits.

In the Edo period

とくがわつなよし

徳川綱吉

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi released a collection of edicts called

しょうるいあわれ

生類憐

みの

れい

令

(Edicts on Compassion for Living Things). This edict prohibited the killing and consumption of four-legged animals. The killing and consumption of birds; two-legged animals, were not subject to the same prohibition.

It is said that the general population did not altogether comply with the rules and found ways to continue consuming animals other than birds. It would seem, however, that Buddhist priests were more obliging, sticking to the rule that four-legged animals are not to be consumed. According to theories of a similar thread, the Buddhist priests were more obliging 'to some degree'. It is here one theory about the use of 羽 to count rabbits takes form. The theory explains that because rabbits could stand on two legs, this was given as a justification for categorizing them as birds, which in turn allowed for their lawful consumption.

A second theory suggests that the long ears of rabbits look like wings, and so they were grouped with birds and 羽 used to count them.

Another theory points to a strong link between the name うさぎ and their grouping under birds. The う in うさぎ is derived from

う

兎

(rabbit), while the origin of the remaining さぎ is unclear. According to popular belief, さぎ (heron) the bird, completes the word うさぎ. This interpretation of the word, draws a link to the categorization of rabbit as bird and the subsequent use of 羽 to count rabbits.

There is no official explanation about the reason 羽 is used to count rabbits. Although 羽 continues to be used to count rabbits, the counter

ひき

匹

is also commonly used. It seems that textbooks teach 匹 for the counting of rabbits, however children are also educated about the cultural use of 羽. When talking about pets, 匹 is the more likely used counter, however 羽 may also be encountered in this context.

The topic of 羽 for counting rabbits sparks interest even among Japanese people, so it can be useful to have some understanding about the theories on its origin.