What is the literal meaning of the term "onmyōji"?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: What is the literal meaning of the term "onmyōji"?
Options: 1) gentleman of methods 2) court magician 3) Buddhist sorcerer 4) yin-yang master

Option 1 analysis: 'gentleman of methods' does not align with the etymology or common scholarly understanding of onmyōji. The term combines ideas related to cosmology and technique, not a generic phrase like 'gentleman' or 'methods' in isolation, so this misinterprets the linguistic roots.

Option 2 analysis: 'court magician' is closer in context since onmyōji historically served in imperial or court settings, but the question asks for the literal meaning of the term itself, not a workplace role. While associated with court duties, the literal meaning focuses on the cosmological mastery implied by the word, not simply employment.

Option 3 analysis: 'Buddhist sorcerer' implies a religious or doctrinal association with Buddhism. Onmyōji are linked to Chinese yin-yang cosmology and the Five Elements rather than Buddhist practice, so this is a mischaracterization of both origin and purpose.

Option 4 analysis: 'yin-yang master' directly reflects the etymology. The term onmyōji is derived from yin-yang (陰陽) and mastery (師, or master), signifying a practitioner who commands yin-yang-based divination, calendars, and elemental disciplines. This aligns with historical and linguistic understanding of the word.

In summary, option 4 accurately captures the literal meaning by combining the concepts of yin-yang with mastery, whereas the other options either miss key linguistic elements or misstate the etymology or core concept involved.

AMES 3265W (001) Quiz 2: Japanese tales (Setsuwa) and Onmyōji

What is the literal meaning of the term "onmyōji"?

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