真澄鏡まそかがみ

also: ますかがみ · まそみかがみ

Meanings

perfectly clear mirror

archaic

Archaic phrase, often used as a poetic epithet (makurakotoba) for a flawless mirror. Also appears as 真澄の鏡. Not used in modern everyday speech.

Kanji

真true, reality, Buddhist sect
澄lucidity, be clear, clear
鏡mirror, speculum, barrel-head
十ten
寸measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little

Related words

真ま澄すみの鏡かがみ
Synonymous phrase with the same meaning; 真澄鏡 is a contracted form.

Written forms

真澄鏡
- まそかがみ
  Most common kanji spelling for this archaic phrase.
- ますかがみ
  Alternate reading for the same kanji form.
- まそみかがみ
  Extended reading; み may be an old honorific infix.
真ま十そ鏡かがみ
Variant kanji spelling; 十 is used phonetically for そ.
十寸鏡ますかがみ
Variant kanji spelling with reading ますかがみ.
ますかがみ
まそみかがみ

Etymology

Compound of 真澄 (maso, 'truly clear') + 鏡 (kagami, 'mirror'). The exact derivation of 真澄 is uncertain, but it is an old intensifying prefix-like element. The variant 真十鏡 uses 十 as ateji for そ.