Sasanishiki 57 Posted October 12, 2005 (edited) OK, this sounds like a newbie question, but I was asked it and couldn`t really give a definitive answer. It also ties with a comment Kintamayama made in another thread... Why is East the higher position to West in sumo? My friend wondered if it is based on the capital or whatever. My response was that it probably has something to do with the sun, rather than the emperor/capital, as they probably started this line of thinking when the emperor was still in Kyoto but military power was in the East. Also, if we can, can we get to the root of the answer? What I mean is, if someone says "Because East is higher in Shinto than West", that is not really answering the question fully because then the next question is Why? Edited October 12, 2005 by Sasanishiki Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Buckton 1 Posted October 12, 2005 Also, if we can, can we get to the root of the answer? What I mean is, if someone says "Because East is higher in Shinto than West", that is not really answering the question fully because then the next question is Why? the sun goddess - Amaterasu - chief mama of old came from the east / still does every day. Also- the east in the (main) stadium actually pointing nearer to north (if stadium is seen as positioned next to north/south running Sumidagawa) - apparently to do with main stand facing imperial palace - (rough) direction to which all entering rikishi first bow / gyoji also bows upon entrance. Of lore -the address to which most 'names' in J history bowed before inserting blade and having their last 'trim'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hashira 0 Posted October 14, 2005 i was under the impression that it was because Tokyo (the eastern capital) had eventually become dominant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 5,806 Posted October 17, 2005 alphabetical orderworks even in romaji Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,173 Posted October 17, 2005 Doesn't work in Hiragana reading though. Nishi comes ahead of Higashi in a Japanese dictionary... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest masamune2005 Posted October 17, 2005 go true north, strong and free! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 44,345 Posted October 17, 2005 ah...that was a joke How are we supposed to know that?? No smilies, nothing... We take you very seriously, and you are joking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonosuke 28 Posted October 17, 2005 go true north, strong and free! Now I know Hockey is back in town... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted November 2, 2005 OK, I haven't been able to find a definitive answer still (although the Amaterasu one seems most plausible). However, while I was looking for answers, I came across a reason (supposedly) that east and west are used instead of any other way of separating the rikishi. In 1645, when sumo was held in Kyoto at Tadasunomori, the rikishi were divided into east and west based on the direction from which they came to reach the capital (which Kyoto was at the time). The dividng line was Ousakayama, a mountain that lay between the old provinces of Oumi (modern day Shiga prefecture) and Yamashiro (part of modern Kyoto). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terarno 46 Posted November 4, 2005 It has something to do with the two gods, many centuries ago, who were fighting each other. One was the "East God" and the other the "West God". Sumo is a celebration of this great battle. And I guess east is better than west because the east god won ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asojima 2,870 Posted November 4, 2005 The Chinese, too, seem to have a preference for the East. Most of their expressions which reference the east have a positive connotation. The Kanji for Nippon comes from the Chinese and literally means Source of the Sun (or the East). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terarno 46 Posted November 4, 2005 It has something to do with the two gods, many centuries ago, who were fighting each other. One was the "East God" and the other the "West God".Sumo is a celebration of this great battle. And I guess east is better than west because the east god won ? Takemikazuchi was the "East God" and Takeminakata the "West God". They were fighting for the "possession" of the Japan land. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
