道
road-way · street · district · journey · course · moral · teachings
Details
Description
Way/Path - the Tao, philosophy, way of life.
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
Walk + head
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '辶' (advance) and '首' (head). The direction one heads toward - the path.
Symbolism
Life's path, way of discipline, path to truth. Fundamental concept in Japanese culture: martial arts, tea ceremony, calligraphy.
Spiritual Meaning
Beyond physical paths, represents lifes path and spiritual cultivation in martial arts, tea ceremony. Fundamental Eastern philosophy concept.
Anime & Manga
Games
ファイナルファンタジーX
Final Fantasy X
RPG depicting the summoner's pilgrimage - a spiritual 'way'
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
悪逆無道
あくぎゃくむどう
treacherous; heinous; treasonous; treacherous
言語道断
ごんごどうだん
outrageous; preposterous; scandalous; outrageous
人道主義
じんどうしゅぎ
humanism; humanitarianism; humanism
黄道吉日
おうどうきちにち
very auspicious day for all types of occasions; very auspicious day for all types of occasions
王道楽土
おうどうらくど
Arcadia, presided over by a virtuous king; Arcadia, presided over by a virtuous king
文武両道
ぶんぶりょうどう
being accomplished in both the literary and military arts; doing well in both school and sports; being accomplished in both the literary and military arts
極悪非道
ごくあくひどう
inhuman; heinous; atrocious; inhuman
道聴塗説
どうちょうとせつ
shallow-minded mouthing of secondhand information; shallow-minded mouthing of secondhand information
暴虐非道
ぼうぎゃくひどう
violent and cruel; tyrannical and atrocious; violent and cruel
悪逆非道
あくぎゃくひどう
heinous; treacherous; atrocious; heinous
残酷非道
ざんこくひどう
inhumanity; atrocity; abominable cruelty; inhumanity
世道人心
せどうじんしん
(public) morals and sentiments; (public) morals and sentiments
大逆無道
たいぎゃくむどう
heinous; treacherous; atrocious; heinous
道心堅固
どうしんけんご
being of firm (unshakable) faith and strict practice; being of firm (unshakable) faith and strict practice
無理非道
むりひどう
unreasonable and unjust; unconscionable; unreasonable and unjust
六道輪廻
ろくどうりんね
endless circle of transmigration in the six posthumous worlds; endless circle of transmigration in the six posthumous worlds
二河白道
にがびゃくどう
the road to paradise is a white road between two rivers, one of water (wrath) and one of fire (greed); the road to paradise is a white road between two rivers, one of water (wrath) and one of fire (greed)
道を譲る
みちをゆずる
To yield the way; To give way to others
Proverbs & Idioms
道についた
みちについた
To have found one's way
To have found one's calling or path in life
千里の道も一歩から
せんりのみちもいっぽから
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Great achievements start with small beginnings
Poetry
由良のとを 渡る舟人 かぢを絶え ゆくへも知らぬ 恋の道かな
Poem #46 from Hyakunin Isshu
大江山 いく野の道の 遠ければ まだふみも見ず 天の橋立
Poem #60 from Hyakunin Isshu
世の中よ 道こそなけれ 思ひ入る 山の奥にも 鹿ぞ鳴くなる
Poem #83 from Hyakunin Isshu
Related Figures
道元
The founder of Soto Zen Buddhism and author of the profound 'Treasury of the True Dharma Eye'.