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Kotomora

蔡

type of tortoise used for divination

FrequencyTop 5,000Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • サイ

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

蔡 centers on a specific type of tortoise used in ancient divination rituals. The meaning is narrow and refers to this particular ritual object rather than a broad concept.

Study

Etymology

蔡 combines 艹 (grass) with 祭 (ritual), likely referring to a type of tortoise used in divination, perhaps named after a place or associated with ritual grass. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a ritual 祭 where a special tortoise shell is placed on a bed of grass 艹 for divination. 蔡 is that ritual tortoise.

Reading mnemonic

For サイ, imagine a sigh (サイ) of reverence as the diviner places the tortoise on the grass for the ritual.