barbarian, savage, Ainu
夷 centers on the concept of an outsider or uncivilized person, historically used to refer to barbarians, savages, or specifically the Ainu people.
peoples formerly of northern Japan with distinct language and culture (i.e. the Ainu)
Emishi; Ezo; non-Yamato peoples in northern Japan
expulsion of foreigners
incendiary bomb; firebomb
kobus magnolia (Magnolia kobus)
commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force against the barbarians (beginning in 794 CE)
Hokkaido sika (Cervus nippon yesoensis); Yezo sika
warrior from the eastern parts of Japan
controlling foreigners by foreigners; playing one barbarian state against another
controlling foreigners by foreigners; playing one barbarian state against another
upasika (devout female lay follower of Buddhism)
loyalty to the emperor and expulsion of the foreigners
Four Barbarians (non-Chinese peoples bordering ancient China)
ming yi (hexagram 36 of the I Ching: darkening of the light)
barbarian
to control foreigners by foreigners; to play one barbarian state against another
barbarian; savage
barbaric custom; barbarian custom
Emishi allied with the central government (ritsuryō period)
(in China) 9th note of the ancient chromatic scale (approx. A sharp)
夷 is thought to combine 大 (big) and 弓 (bow), possibly depicting a person with a bow, which was associated with foreign tribes. The exact historical development is uncertain.
A big 大 person holding a bow 弓 represents an outsider or barbarian from ancient times.
For イ, imagine an eagle (イーグル) swooping down on a barbarian holding a bow: eagle -> イ.