銘

• Reading: めい
• Romaji: mei
• Kanji breakdown: 銘 (mei) — inscription, engraving, brand, motto (金 metal + 名 name)
• Pronunciation: /meː/

Meaning

Inscription; engraving; motto; brand name. Words or characters carved or written on an object to identify, commemorate, or convey a precept.

A 銘 may appear on swords, temple bells, teabowls, gravestones, and calligraphic works. In the context of swords, the 銘 stamped on the tang (茎, nakago) identifies the swordsmith and is crucial for authentication. In ethical and literary tradition, 座右の銘 (za'u no mei) denotes a personal motto or guiding maxim — a sentence one keeps beside one's seat as a lifelong guiding principle. The word also functions as a verb 銘じる (meijiru, to engrave in one's mind).

Examples

1. 刀の茎に刻まれた銘から、それが鎌倉時代の名工の作であることが判明した。 From the inscription carved on the tang of the sword, it was determined to be the work of a renowned swordsmith from the Kamakura period.
2. 師から贈られた言葉を座右の銘として、長年仕事の傍らに書いて貼っている。 He has kept the words given to him by his mentor as his personal motto, writing them down and posting them beside his workspace for many years.
3. 茶碗の底に小さく施された銘が、その器の由来を静かに物語っていた。 The small inscription on the bottom of the tea bowl quietly told the story of the vessel's origins.

Usage Guide

Context: swords, ceramics, calligraphy, personal mottos, cultural heritage

Tone: solemn

Origin & History

The kanji 銘 combines 金 (kin/kane, metal) and 名 (mei/na, name/inscription). The original sense was an inscription in metal — names, dates, and mottos engraved on bronze vessels and weapons. The meaning later expanded to any inscribed text and to the idea of a maxim impressed deeply on the mind.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: General