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長命縷

English translation: medicine ball (ornamental scent bag)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:長命縷
English translation:medicine ball (ornamental scent bag)
Entered by: casey

02:06 Nov 8, 2006
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.)
Japanese term or phrase: 長命縷
Again, having to do with incense.
casey
United States
Local time: 12:30
tarisman ball OR medicine ball
Explanation:
Don't know this is accepted translation. But among Native American there is a thing called "medicine bag". This is used as tarisman of protection against evil spirits, and its contents differ from a person to another.
"Medicine" in this case does not necessary mean medicinal or cure against diseases, but against eveil spirits.

Now why "ball"? See below.
http://dic.livedoor.com/psearch?key=��
くす‐だま【薬玉】
１ 種々の香料を詰めた錦にしきの袋に薬草や造花をつけ、長い5色の糸を垂らした飾り物。不浄を払い、邪気を避けるものとして、端午の節句に柱などに飾った。中国の風習が輸入されたもの。くすりの玉。続命縷しょくめいる。長命縷。《季 夏》「―の人うち映えてゆききかな／虚子」 ２ 造花などで１に似せて作った飾り物の玉。式典・祝い事などに用い、割ると中からハトや紙吹雪が出るものもある。

So you know "kusudama = kusuri no tama" = 長命縷, thus mecicine ball.
For this, "tarisman ball" could be your another choice.
Selected response from:

humbird
Grading comment
Thank you. I did not realize it was the same thing as kusudama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusudama
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4tarisman ball OR medicine ball
humbird


  

Answers


50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
tarisman ball OR medicine ball


Explanation:
Don't know this is accepted translation. But among Native American there is a thing called "medicine bag". This is used as tarisman of protection against evil spirits, and its contents differ from a person to another.
"Medicine" in this case does not necessary mean medicinal or cure against diseases, but against eveil spirits.

Now why "ball"? See below.
http://dic.livedoor.com/psearch?key=��
くす‐だま【薬玉】
１ 種々の香料を詰めた錦にしきの袋に薬草や造花をつけ、長い5色の糸を垂らした飾り物。不浄を払い、邪気を避けるものとして、端午の節句に柱などに飾った。中国の風習が輸入されたもの。くすりの玉。続命縷しょくめいる。長命縷。《季 夏》「―の人うち映えてゆききかな／虚子」 ２ 造花などで１に似せて作った飾り物の玉。式典・祝い事などに用い、割ると中からハトや紙吹雪が出るものもある。

So you know "kusudama = kusuri no tama" = 長命縷, thus mecicine ball.
For this, "tarisman ball" could be your another choice.


humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you. I did not realize it was the same thing as kusudama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusudama

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Derek Newpor (X): I find 縷 can mean ' thread' with an inference of a 'ray of hope', so 長命縷 might be translated as 'hope for long life beads' (aka 'feeling the beads'
6 hrs
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