Futon (布団 - Japanese Bedding)

Apr 23, 2018 20:18
Yesterday I bought a "futon" (布団).

A "futon" is a kind of bedding made of cotton or feathers and is very common in Japan.

Originally, the kanji of "futon" (布団) was written as "蒲団," and "futon" meant a round rug made by weaving leaves of cattails for Zen sitting meditation.

("蒲" means leaves of cattails and "団" means circle.)

In the Edo period, it began to create larger "futons" made of cloth or cotton, and they have come to be used as not only rugs but also bedding.

Since leaves of cattails were no longer used in that period, the kanji "蒲" was changed to "布," which means "cloth."

Currently, "futon" (布団) has come to mean usually bedding, whereas rugs for sitting have come to be called "zabuton" (座布団) by adding "za" (座 - sitting).

https://blog.kano.ac/2018/04/futon/
私は昨日、布団を買いました。

布団とは、布地の袋の中に綿や羽毛などを入れた寝具であり、日本で広く用いられています。

もともと「布団」は「蒲団」と書き、蒲(がま)の葉を編んで作った座禅用の丸い敷物を表す言葉でした。

(「蒲」は蒲の葉を、「団」は丸いことを意味しています。)

江戸時代になると、綿や布による大型の蒲団が作られるようになり、敷物だけでなく、寝具としても用いられるようにもなりました。

この頃になると蒲の葉は使われなったことから、「蒲」の字は「布」に変化していきました。

また、「布団」は専ら寝具を指すようになり、座るための敷物としての布団は「座」という漢字をつけて「座布団」と呼ぶようになりました。
No. 1 jerems's correction
  • In the Edo period, it began to create larger "futons" made of cloth or cotton, and they have come to be used as not only rugs but also bedding.
  • In the Edo period, it they (who) began to create larger "futons" made of cloth or cotton, and they have come to be used as not only rugs but also bedding.
すでに良い。よくできました。
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction and your comment! (^^)
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