梓あずさ

noun

Japanese cherry birch

Only with reading あずさ / アズサ

A tree species (Betula grossa) native to Japan. Often written in kana as あずさ.

See also: ヨグソミネバリ

• あずさは山さん地ちに生はえる落らく葉よう高こう木ぼくです。

  The Japanese cherry birch is a deciduous tree that grows in mountainous areas.

noun

yellow catalpa

Only with reading あずさ / アズサ

A tree species (Catalpa ovata), also known as キササゲ. The wood was historically used for bows and printing blocks.

See also: キササゲ

• キササゲは梓あずさとも呼よばれ、昔むかしから弓ゆみの材ざい料りょうに使つかわれました。

  The yellow catalpa is also called 梓, and its wood has been used for making bows since ancient times.

noun

Japanese mallotus

Only with reading あずさ / アズサ

A plant species (Mallotus japonicus), also called 赤芽柏. Less commonly referred to as 梓.

See also: 赤芽柏

• 赤あか芽め柏がしわは梓あずさの一いっ種しゅとされることがあります。

  The Japanese mallotus is sometimes considered a type of 梓.

noun

printing block

Refers to a woodblock used for printing, traditionally made from catalpa wood. This sense is not restricted to a specific reading.

• 梓あずさの版はん木ぎで経きょう典てんを刷すった。

  They printed sutras using printing blocks made of catalpa wood.

noun

catalpa bow

Only with reading あずさ

Abbreviation of 梓弓 (あずさゆみ), a bow made from catalpa wood. Used in classical poetry and literature.

See also: 梓弓

• 万まん葉よう集しゅうには「梓あずさ弓ゆみ」の歌うたが多おおく見みられる。

  Many poems in the Man'yōshū mention the catalpa bow.

noun

catalpa medium

Only with reading あずさ

Abbreviation of 梓巫女 (あずさみこ), a female medium who used a catalpa bow in rituals. Historical term.

See also: 梓巫女

• 梓あずさ巫女みこは梓あずさ弓ゆみを使つかって神しん託たくを伝つたえたとされる。

  The catalpa medium is said to have conveyed divine messages using a catalpa bow.