Yamato nadeshiko
Yamato nadeshiko (大和撫子, literally, "ideal Japanese woman") is a Japanese term and a flower metaphor. The term describes the "flower of Japanese womanhood" or what is generally believed to be typical and ideal about Japanese women.[1] It also means "traditional daughter of Japan".[2]
The phrase combines the words Yamato, which is an ancient name for Japan, and nadeshiko, which is a wild pink carnation (dianthus superbus).
History
[change | change source]The phrase Yamato Nadeshiko means the traditional Japanese woman, and she is contrasted with other women such as the "new" type of Japanese woman.[3] As ideas about women have developed and changed, this term has meant different things at different times in history. For example, the term had a special nationalistic meaning during World War II.[4]
Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン) is the name for the Japan women's national football team.[5]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ TVTropes.org, "Yamato Nadeshiko"; retrieved 2012-8-10.
- ↑ Seward, Jack. (1992). Outrageous Japanese: Slang, Curses & Epithets, p. 66.
- ↑ Ofori, Everett. (2011). Guaranteed Formula for Writing Success, p. 94.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Yamato Nadeshiko" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 1047.
- ↑ Hongo, Jun, "Nadeshiko Japan eyes London Olympic gold Archived 2012-11-01 at the Wayback Machine", Japan Times, 24 January 2012, p. 3.
