Yamato Nadeshiko

nihongo|Yamato Nadeshiko|大和撫子 is referred to by Japanese as a woman with attributes that were considered traditionally desirable from the perspective of a male dominated society; generally ascribed to people with traditional upbringings. It is an extremely broad, but complicated Japanese aesthetic concept. The name is believed to originate from the willowy Dianthus superbus or the Japanese Nadeshiko flower.

"Kenkyūsha's New Japanese-English Dictionary" (5th ed., 2003) translates "Yamato-nadeshiko": "a Japanese woman (with all the traditional graces); an ideal Japanese woman." "Daijirin" (3rd ed., 2006) defines it: "1 ナデシコの別名。2 日本女性の清楚な美しさをほめていう語。", "1. another name for "Dianthus superbus". 2. A figure of speech for the beauty of Japanese women who are neat and tidy."

Also known as an ideal Japanese woman, it revolves around acting for the benefit of the family and following instructions or acting in the best interest of patriarchal authority figures. Virtues include: loyalty, domestic ability, wisdom, and humility.

During World War II, the idea of Yamato Nadeshiko was popularized as a kind of national propaganda by the Japanese government. A Yamato Nadeshiko should be able to endure all the pain and poverty of life for her husband (a soldier) and the country, and should always be ready to fight with naginata or tae yari and to be ready to die at any time, for her country or to keep her chastity.

ee also

* Girl next door
* Yamato-damashii
* Cult of Domesticity
* Good Wife, Wise Mother

External links and References

* [http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/yamatonadeshiko.html sci.lang.japan FAQ: What is Yamato Nadeshiko]