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底の国 (そこのくに) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

底そこの国くに

Meanings

1

noun

underworld; land of the dead

archaic

Archaic mythological term for the realm of the dead, equivalent to 根の国 (ねのくに). Used in classical texts and Shinto mythology.

See also: 根の国

古こ事じ記きには、イザナミが底そこの国くにへ去さったと記しるされている。
The Kojiki records that Izanami departed to the underworld.

Kanji

底bottom, sole, depth
国country

Similar words

根ねの国くに
Synonymous archaic term for the underworld; 底の国 is less common and emphasizes the 'bottom' or 'depths' aspect.
黄泉よみ
Another archaic term for the land of the dead; 黄泉 is more widely recognized and appears in many classical texts.

Etymology

Compound of 底 (そこ, 'bottom') + の (possessive particle) + 国 (くに, 'land'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it reflects an ancient cosmological view of the underworld as a realm below the earth.