I think some of you guys who are interested in Japanese and reading this
website know how to write month in Japanese; 一月、二月、三月…十一月、十二月. How
about the month in different way of writing? In old Japan, people showed
months as Kanji like below list. Those Kanji are still used to show a
month. I was born in 葉月. Which month were you born in?
January(一
月)…睦
月(Mutsuki)
Reason: There are various views of 睦月, and
most convincing one is to mean having a banquet with whole family.
February(二
月)…如
月(Kisaragi)
Reason: 如月is used in China as another name
of February.
March(三月)…弥生(Yayoi)
Reason: The
month that plants grow thickly.
April(四月)…卯月(Uzuki)
Reason:
There are several views of 卯月. However, it is considered as the month a
plant, deutzia blooms.
May(五月)…皐月(Satsuki)
Reason: The month to
plant rice seedlings
June(六月)…水無月(Minazuki)
Reason: There are
several views of 水無月. There are two convincing reasons. First, the month
lucks of water after rainy season. Second, the month that filling water
into rice field.
July(七月)…文月(Fuzuki)
Reason: This month is
related to Tanabata,
and people give poetry. (not certain reason found)
August(八
月)…葉月(Hazuki)
Reason:
The strongest reason of 葉月 is the month leaves fall down.
September(九
月)…長月(Nagatsuki)
Reason:
The shortened word of 夜長月(yonagatsuki/ the month nights get longer) is
strong reason.
October(十月)…神無月(Kaminazuki)
Reason: The month Gods
from all over Japan are out of their towns because they gather
Izumotaisha in Shimane prefecture to talk about a year.
November(十
一月)…霜月(Shimotsuki)
Reason:
The month to have frost
December(十二月)…師走(Shiwasu)
Reason:
Final month of the year