四つの蛇

Old Japanese

Etymology

Literally “the four serpents”. Originates from the Nirvana Sutra, which says, “Earth, water, fire and wind are like four great snakes”.

Noun

四つの蛇 (yo₂tu no₂ pe₂mi₁) (kana よつのへみ)

1. The four elements that make up the world: earth, water, fire, and wind
   • c. 753, Bussokuseki no Uta (Yakushi-ji Buddha Footprint Poems), poem 19

     与都乃閇美伊都都乃毛乃乃阿都麻礼流伎多奈伎微乎婆伊止比須都閇志波奈礼須都倍志

     yo₂tu no₂ pe₂mi₁ itutu no₂ mono₂ no₂ atumareru ki₁tanaki₁ mi₂ wo ba ito₂pi₁ sutu be₂si panare sutu besi

     A filthy body where that which is unclean(literally, “the four serpents(the four elements) and five demons(the chandalas”) gather must be despised and abandoned; they must be separated and abandoned.