52Cards
BeginnerDifficulty
78 minTime
Myth and Legend KanjiThemes
Overview
The focus stays on myth and legend, making the deck easy to browse and return to.
Practice This Deck
Open the dedicated practice room for flashcards, quiz, and review.
Previous deckSeasons of JapanSeasons of Japan offers 52 kanji for a short pass through seasons in Japanese culture.Next deckFestival KanjiFestival Kanji frames 19 kanji around festival vocabulary.
Cards in This Deck
52 Cards
- 01夢dream, vision, illusionInspires the dreams and mystical visions that drive many legendary tales.
- 02仮sham, temporary, interimAppears in words for makeup and assumed names common in folkloric disguises.
- 03奇strange, strangeness, curiosityConnects to strangeness and miracles like the word for weird or curious events.
- 04幻phantasm, vision, dreamAbarcas the illusions and phantasms that define the mystical nature of lore.
- 05怪suspicious, mystery, apparitionAnchors words for suspicious mysteries and the supernatural creatures of myth.
- 06鬼ghost, devilRepresents the classic ogres and demons central to many traditional stories.
- 07神gods, mind, soulThe primary kanji for gods and divine spirits throughout legendary history.
- 08霊spirits, soulFocuses on the spirits and souls that inhabit the mystical world.
- 09魂soul, spiritDescribes the inner spirit or soul found in the word for a changing heart.
- 10魔witch, demon, evil spiritBuilds words for magic and the influence of evil spirits in folklore.
- 11獄prison, jailOften associated with the underworld or prisons found in mythic realms.
- 12雷thunder, lightning boltRepresents the elemental power of thunder and lightning bolts in nature myths.
- 13竜dragon, imperialA simplified form for the imperial dragons that guard ancient treasures.
- 14龍dragon, imperialThe traditional kanji for the dragons and imperial symbols of legendary power.
- 15亀tortoise, turtleHighlights the long-lived turtles that symbolize wisdom and longevity in lore.
- 16鶴crane, storkFeatures the crane, a bird often linked to good fortune and mythical lifespan.
- 17虎tiger, drunkardRepresents the powerful tiger often paired with dragons in traditional art.
- 18鷹hawkIncludes the hawk, a noble bird of prey featured in various legendary stories.
- 19鵬phoenixThe kanji for a giant mythical bird or phoenix that soars through ancient tales.
- 20獣animal, beastCovers the wild beasts and animals that inhabit various mythical settings.
- 21蛇snake, serpent, hard drinker蛇 fits perfectly into myths and legends as the classic serpent found in countless tales.
- 22獅lion獅 brings the lion to this deck, a powerful creature celebrated in traditional dances like 獅子舞.
- 23狐fox狐 represents the fox, a cunning shape-shifter known for its tricks in traditional folklore.
- 24狼wolf狼 introduces the wolf, a creature that roams through dark forests and ancient myths.
- 25鳳male mythical bird鳳 adds a purely mythological element with its meaning of a divine male bird like the phoenix.
- 26鷺heronThe elegant heron, 鷺, often serves as a gentle symbol of nature in traditional stories.
- 27妖attractive, bewitching, calamity妖 captures the bewitching and supernatural essence of mythical monsters like 妖怪.
- 28闇get dark, gloom, disorderLegends often explore the unknown, making the deep darkness of 闇 an essential concept here.
- 29幽seclude, confine to a room, deep幽 adds a faint, secluded atmosphere that sets the right tone for tales of ghosts and the afterlife.
- 30呪spell, curse, charmNo collection of myths is complete without the powerful spells and curses represented by 呪.
- 31威intimidate, dignity, majestyThe majesty and intimidating presence of legendary gods and monsters are clearly captured by 威.
- 32即instant, namely, as isMagic in folktales often acts in an instant, a sudden and immediate change expressed by 即.
- 33頑stubborn, foolish, firmlyMany traditional stories feature a stubborn or foolish character, qualities aptly described by 頑.
- 34郊outskirts, suburbs, rural areaFolklore often takes place on the rural outskirts away from the human city, a setting marked by 郊.
- 35軒flats, counter for houses, eavesThe eaves of a house, 軒, often act as the physical boundary where spirits interact with our world.
- 36徐gradually, slowly, deliberatelyThe gradual, deliberate build-up of suspense in a myth is perfectly captured by the slow pace of 徐.
- 37壇podium, stage, rostrumSacred rituals in legends generally take place on a raised podium or altar, represented by 壇.
- 38嘉applaud, praise, esteemUplifting myths focus on auspicious omens and reasons to praise the gods, an attitude reflected in 嘉.
- 39俗vulgar, customs, manners俗 contrasts the divine and supernatural with the mundane customs and worldliness of the human realm.
- 40禅Zen, silent meditation禅 introduces the silent meditation that so often connects monks to the mystical forces in folklore.
- 41菩kind of grass, sacred treeThis sacred tree kanji anchors Buddhist terms like Bodhisattva and enlightenment.
- 42祇great, national or local god, peacefulThese characters represent local deities and help name the traditional Gion Festival.
- 43朔conjunction (astronomy), first day of month, northThis kanji marks the new moon and the beginning of traditional lunar months.
- 44蕃grow luxuriouslyLush growth found in nature myths is captured by this kanji for growing luxuriously.
- 45闊wideWide spaces and the broad-minded nature of legendary figures use this character.
- 46諜reconnoiter, spy outSecret intrigue and espionage within legends center on this kanji for spying.
- 47謳declare, express, extolSinging the praises of heroes or declaring great deeds involves this kanji.
- 48狸raccoon, tanukiThis shapeshifting tanuki is a mischievous creature in traditional Japanese folklore.
- 49碑tombstone, monumentStone monuments and tombstones stand as lasting markers of legendary events.
- 50僅a wee bitSmall margins and tiny amounts represented here often turn the tide of legends.
- 51詣visit a temple, arrive, attainMaking a pilgrimage to visit sacred temples involves this kanji for arriving to pray.
- 52碩large, great, eminentEminent scholars and the great scale of legendary leaders are described by this kanji.