Information AboutSensei |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SENSEI | |
| japanese honorifics | |
| japanese words and phrases | |
| japanese martial arts terms | |
| titles and rank in japanese martial arts | |
| buddhism in japan | |
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In Sanbo Kyodan related Zen schools, ''sensei'' is normally used to refer to ordained teachers below the rank of Roshi . However, other Zen Buddhists use the term for any priest regardless of seniority. The Japanese expression ''sensei'' derives from but is not semantically identical to the Chinese word xiansheng, which is written with the same characters. Xiansheng is a courtesy title for a man of respected stature; its English equivalent is gentleman. It can also be attached to a man's name to mean "Mr." Prior to the development of the modern vernacular, Xiansheng was used to address teachers of both genders; however, this has fallen out of widespread usage, except in some southern Chinese dialects such as Hokkien where it still has the meaning of "teacher" or "doctor". In Japanese, ''sensei'' is used to address people of both genders. ''Sensei'' can also be used with negative connotations. Sometimes enthusiastic supporters and admirers use it fawningly, as when addressing or talking about charismatic business, political, and spiritual leaders. Japanese speakers are particularly sensitive to this usage when it concerns members of an In-group who spontaneously associate or identify ''sensei'' with a particular person—many if not most Japanese speakers readily see this usage as indicative of adherents speaking of a Charisma tic spiritual or Cult leader. When talking about such situations, Japanese speakers will sometimes use the term sarcastically to ridicule overblown adulation, and the Japanese media frequently invoke it to highlight the Megalomania of those who allow themselves to be addressed in this manner. In speech, a sarcastic ''sensei'' is intoned for emphasis, whereas in print it is rendered in Katakana , akin to Scare Quotes or Italics in English. ''ŌSENSEI'' AND ''WAKA SENSEI'' is a Japanese title used to distinguish between two teachers (or doctors, etc.) with the same name. The elder or superior one is then called ''ōsensei'', and the other one . In most cases, ''ōsensei'' is the father of ''waka sensei''. In martial arts, the most common use of this term is for the founder of Aikido , Morihei Ueshiba . Another famous martial artist, Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate was referred to as ''ōsensei'' within his organization, the Kyokushinkai . |
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