Fate

Japanese: 運命 - うんめい

[1] [noun] A transcendental power that brings about happiness or misfortune, joy or sorrow beyond the will of man. Also, the phenomenon of good and bad fortune. Coincidence. Luck. Fate. By extension, good fortune, lifespan, future course. ※Chuu-u-ki - Kanji 7 (1093) December 4th "My body is very fortunate, and fate is _bound to change." ※ _Heike (before the _13th century) 2 "When a person's fate turns against them, they will inevitably think of evil." [Nanshi - Yoh Genpo-den] [2][1] The Japanese nickname for Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor. It is said that the composer explained the opening theme as "Thus fate knocks at the door ." [2] A collection of stories. Written by Kunikida Doppo. Published in 1906 ( Meiji 39 ). It contains nine stories: "Fatalist," "Diary of a Drinker," "Policeman," "Friend on Horseback," "Sorrow in Painting," "The Devil," "An Extraordinary Ordinary Man," "The Banks of the Sorachi River," and "Sunrise." [3] Historical novel. Written by Koda Rohan. Published in 1919 ( Taisho 8 ). A masterpiece of historical literature based on the historical facts of Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty in China. [Glossary] (1) In Chinese classics, "destiny" means "fate," "birth," or "divine will," but in Japan, unique changes in meaning can be seen, such as its use to mean "lifespan" in the example "Chuu-u-ki - Kanji 7th Year December 4th."
(2) In the Tale of the Heike, the predominant usage is that of "good fortune," such as "unmei raku" (opening of fate) and "unmei katabuku" (the end of fate).
(3) It became associated with fatalism brought over from the West and is now used to mean "destiny" or "future."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

[1] 〘名〙人間の意志を超えて、幸福や不幸、喜びや悲しみをもたらす超越的な力。また、その善悪吉凶の現象。巡り合わせ。運。命運。転じて、幸運、寿命、今後の成り行き。※中右記‐寛治七年（1093）一二月四日「身体尤吉也、運命必可_レ余_二七十_一」※平家（１３Ｃ前）二「人の運命の傾かんとては、必ず悪事を思ひ立ち候ふ也」〔南史‐羊玄保伝〕[2][一] ベートーベン作曲の交響曲第五番ハ短調の日本での通称。作曲者が冒頭の第一主題を「運命はこうして扉(とびら)をたたく」と説明したと伝えられることによる。[二] 小説集。国木田独歩作。明治三九年（一九〇六）刊。「運命論者」「酒中日記」「巡査」「馬上の友」「画の悲み」「悪魔」「非凡なる凡人」「空知川の岸辺」「日の出」の九編を収める。[三] 歴史小説。幸田露伴作。大正八年（一九一九）発表。中国明朝の建文帝の史実に基づく、歴史文学の傑作。[語誌](1)漢籍にある「運命」は、「めぐりあわせ」「うまれつき」「天命」などの意味を持つが、日本では、挙例の「中右記‐寛治七年一二月四日」にある「寿命」の意の用法のように、独自の意味変化も見られる。
(2)「平家物語」では「運命ひらく」「運命かたぶく」など、「幸運」の意の用法が優勢である。
(3)西洋からもたらされた運命論と結び付き、現代では、「宿命」か「行く末」の意味で用いられる。

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