Why There Were Not Originally in the Japanese Language Equivalents to the Words ‘Environment’ and ‘Nature’

Abstract

Until the nineteenth century the Japanese had no words equivalent to what in European languages would correspond to “environment” and “nature”. Japanese felt bodily united with “nature”, i.e. did not perceive the latter as a separate existence. Therefore, “environment” in the sense of “something which surrounds the human body” was for the Japanese something inconceivable. When a Japanese uses the word “environment” in an European language, he or she is conscious of a “nature” which surrounds the humans, which is subordinate to humans, and in regard of which humans are placed in an haughty position. And only when humans cease being haughty in respect of any single aspect of nature, only then “the environmental problem” in the European sense will advance in the direction of resolving.