also: みょうきょう · めいけい
polished mirror; clear mirror
Literally a mirror that is polished and clear; often used metaphorically for clarity of mind or insight. The word is somewhat literary and may appear in set phrases or titles.
I want to have a mind as clear as a polished mirror.
This book is titled 'The Clear Mirror'.
Standard kanji spelling; the most common reading is めいきょう.
Alternate reading; less common than めいきょう.
Alternate reading; less common than めいきょう.
From 明 (bright, clear) + 鏡 (mirror). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound is conventionally associated with the idea of a perfectly clear mirror.