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Thought Architecture Memo: Between Kotodama and Translation — The Role of English in Spiritual Transmission

2025/7/3

❖ The Weight of Kotodama in Japanese Spirituality In Japan’s spiritual circles, there is a profound reverence for kotodama—the belief that the very sounds of the Japanese language carry sacred power. Its vowels, phonetics, and rhythmic structures are seen not merely as carriers of meaning but as vibrational echoes of the divine. This has fostered a tendency to resist using global languages like English, as if foreign words might erode the sanctity of spiritual expression. ❖ Honoring the Sacred Resonance of Japanese It must be said: I deeply respect the Japanese language for its tonal harmony and vibrational beauty. The gojūon (fifty-sound syllabary) radiates a unique spiritual resonance. When one chants norito (Shinto prayers) or other vocal invocations, the sound itself transmits energy directly into the body and soul. Japanese, in this context, is unparalleled. ❖ Why English Matters for Spiritual Architecture But when the goal shifts from direct resonance to sharing meaning—to explaining spiritual frameworks, cosmologies, and philosophies—English becomes not only appropriate but necessary. Let the norito remain in Japanese. Let the experience of sound unfold untouched. But let the structure, the architecture of meaning, be shared in English. This is not a dilution. It is bridge-building—a sacred act that honors both sound and understanding. ❖ A Dilemma in Japan’s Spiritual Institutions At revered sites like the Grand Shrine of Ise, foreign seekers often ask, “What is this ritual? What does it mean?” Too often, the response is, “Please just feel it. Accept it with your heart.” While this encourages intuition, it risks alienating those who seek philosophical dialogue. Ironically, institutions like Yasukuni Shrine and independent centers often make greater efforts to explain their ...

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Thought Architecture Memo: Between Kotodama and Translation — The Role of English in Spiritual Transmission

❖ The Weight of Kotodama in Japanese Spirituality In Japan’s spiritual circles, there is a profound reverence for kotodama—the belief that the very sounds of the Japanese language carry sacred power. Its vowels, phonetics, and rhythmic structures are seen not merely as carriers of meaning but as vibrational echoes of the divine. This has fostered a tendency to resist using global languages ...

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