17:32 May 11, 2008 |
Japanese to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Religion | |||||
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| Selected response from: Steven Smith United Kingdom Local time: 12:32 | ||||
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Summary of answers provided | ||||
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3 +3 | It depends |
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It depends Explanation: It really depends on your context! This is a pair of opposites, 彼岸 being 'the farther shore' which in Buddhism symbolizes enlightenment/nirvana, overcoming the illusory world of opposites. I think more generally it also connotes death/ the next life. 此岸 is the real world, the mundane world, the world of people not free from illusion, etc. In Buddhism I think these could be translated as Nirvana and Samsara. Heaven and Earth obviously overlap with these concepts, and if you are looking for a broad cultural equivalent rather than religious accuracy, then they might be acceptable. |
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