彼岸と此岸

English translation: It depends

17:32 May 11, 2008
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Religion
Japanese term or phrase: 彼岸と此岸
i would like to translate this as an atonym. like "heaven and earth"
would this be possible?
please help thank you.
FPCO. T Maeda
Germany
English translation:It depends
Explanation:
It really depends on your context!
This is a pair of opposites, 彼岸 being 'the farther shore' which in Buddhism symbolizes enlightenment/nirvana, overcoming the illusory world of opposites. I think more generally it also connotes death/ the next life.
此岸 is the real world, the mundane world, the world of people not free from illusion, etc.
In Buddhism I think these could be translated as Nirvana and Samsara.
Heaven and Earth obviously overlap with these concepts, and if you are looking for a broad cultural equivalent rather than religious accuracy, then they might be acceptable.
Selected response from:

Steven Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:59
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3It depends
Steven Smith


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
It depends


Explanation:
It really depends on your context!
This is a pair of opposites, 彼岸 being 'the farther shore' which in Buddhism symbolizes enlightenment/nirvana, overcoming the illusory world of opposites. I think more generally it also connotes death/ the next life.
此岸 is the real world, the mundane world, the world of people not free from illusion, etc.
In Buddhism I think these could be translated as Nirvana and Samsara.
Heaven and Earth obviously overlap with these concepts, and if you are looking for a broad cultural equivalent rather than religious accuracy, then they might be acceptable.

Steven Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:59
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Duncan Adam: Yes, generally this side and the other side of the line separating life from death or enlightenment from unenlightenment, but with all kinds of interpretations possible depending on context.
26 mins

agree  Mari Nagaoka Mendez (X): I think Steven and Duncan both explained it beautifully.
21 hrs

agree  humbird: Yes it depends. Depending whether you are talking about Buddhism or Christianity or something else.
21 hrs
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