跏
sitting in the lotus position
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
跏 refers specifically to sitting in the lotus position, a cross-legged meditation posture.
Most common words using 跏
- 半跏はんか
half lotus position (meditation posture); sitting with one foot placed on the opposite thigh
- 半跏思惟像はんかしいぞう
statue of a figure sitting contemplatively in the half lotus position (often of Maitreya)
- 半跏趺坐はんかふざ
half lotus position (meditation posture); sitting with one foot placed on the opposite thigh
- 結跏けっか
lotus position (meditation and yoga posture); padmasana; sitting with legs crossed and feet placed on opposing thighs
- 結跏趺坐けっかふざ
lotus position (meditation and yoga posture); padmasana; sitting with legs crossed and feet placed on opposing thighs
Study
Etymology
跏 combines 足 (foot/leg) with 加, which likely contributes the sound カ. The character is used in the compound 跏趺 (かふ) for the lotus position, where the legs are crossed with feet resting on the thighs.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 足 means foot or leg. Picture your legs adding (加) together into a crossed position: 跏 is sitting in the lotus position.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a car (カ) parked with its wheels crossed like legs in the lotus position: car -> カ, and the crossed wheels mirror the crossed legs.