門松

門松

Japanese

門松 (kadomatsu): a pair of pine branch decorations for a gate, set out for New Years.

Kanji in this term
門	松
かど Grade: 2	まつ Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Etymology

Compound of 門 (kado, “gate”) +‎ 松 (matsu, “pine”).[1][2]

Although the term literally means just gate pine, bamboo became part of the traditional design starting from roughly the Kamakura or Muromachi periods. Compare the symbolism of the evergreen pine Christmas tree as a representation of life in the midst of winter.

Pronunciation

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) かど​まつ [kàdóꜜmàtsù] (Nakadaka – [2])[2]
  • (Tokyo) かどまつ [kàdómátsú] (Heiban – [0])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ka̠do̞ma̠t͡sɨᵝ]

Noun

門松 (hiragana かどまつ, rōmaji kadomatsu)

1. a traditional decoration placed in pairs in front of homes in celebration of New Years

See also

• お正月 (しょうがつ) (oshōgatsu): New Years
• 松竹梅 (しょうちくばい) (shōchikubai): pine, bamboo, and plum (as auspicious symbols)

References

1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN