noun
four ordinal directions
Refers to the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) or the four corners. Often used in classical or technical contexts such as geography, cosmology, or traditional Chinese thought. Compare 四隅 (よすみ) for 'four corners' in a more physical sense.
See also: 四隅
古代中国の宇宙論では、四維は天地の四隅を指す。
In ancient Chinese cosmology, 四維 refers to the four corners of heaven and earth.
noun
four cardinal principles of the state
Only with reading しい
From the Chinese classic Guanzi. The four principles are propriety (礼), justice (義), integrity (廉), and sense of shame (恥). This is a specialized historical and philosophical term, not used in everyday Japanese.
『管子』では、四維が国家の基本とされる。
In the Guanzi, the four cardinal principles are considered the foundation of the state.
四隅 refers to the four corners of a physical object or space, while 四維 is more abstract and classical, often used in philosophical or cosmological contexts.
From Chinese 四維 (sìwéi), literally 'four ties' or 'four dimensions'. The term was adopted into Japanese with the reading しい. The second sense derives from the Chinese classic Guanzi.