Greetings all. While I did leave the terminology mostly intact, I took the liberty of translating rather liberally based on my understanding of the “science” behind all the “magic” that I gained after reading the first twelve volumes multiple times at different times (albeit in English). Hence, they will be described differently to Baka-Tsuki’s glossary page which has not been updated in a while (I believe) nor has it been standardised. The main point of this page is due to my desire to translate the glossary (anew) and in particular, the 10 Master Clans entry. Satou Tsutomu-sensei has already named all the 28 families. Also of note, is that this entry is included in the Light Novels as well. Do note that there is a potential for the readings or characters to change at the author’s whims. Furthermore, I have expressed the names using a mix of the “word-processor” and a more conventional romanisation. I may end up choosing a different one for canon. The issue is that their names can have multiple translations and deciding on one myself is almost surely wrong. Listing them all:
- 一条（いちじょう） – Read as “Ichijou”, the characters together mean “ray”, “one long, straight object”, “one clause”, or “one book” amongst others. Individually, they could also mean “one lineage”, “one plot”, “one fibre”, “one stripe”, “one school” amongst others.
- 一之倉（いちのくら） – Read as “Ichinokura”, the characters mean “this one cellar”, “this one storehouse”, “this one elevator” amongst others.
- 一色（いっしき） – Read as “Isshiki”, the characters mean “one colour”, “same tendency”, or “one love” amongst others.
- 二木(ふたつぎ) – Read as “Futatsugi”, the characters mean “two trees” or “two timbers” amongst others.
- 二階堂（にかいどう） – Read as “Nikaidou”, the characters mean “two floor temple”, “second floor shrine” amongst others
- 二瓶（にへい） – Read as “Nihei”, the characters mean “two earthen ware pots”, “two bottles”.
- 三矢（みつや） – Read as “Mitsuya”, the characters mean “three arrows”.
- 三日月（みかづき） – Read as “Mikazuki”, the characters together mean “new moon” or “crescent moon” but individually mean “three days and nights”, “three suns and moons” and can perhaps refer to “three days” or “three years” even.
- 四葉（よつば） – Read as “Yotsuba”, the characters mean “four leaves” (rather unsurprisingly).
- 五輪（いつわ） – Read as “Itsuwa”, the characters mean “five rings”. With the alternative reading “Gorin”, it effectively means the Olympics.
- 五頭（ごとう） – Read as “Gotou”, the characters mean “five heads”, “five leaders” or “five large ___”.
- 五味（いつみ） – Read as “Itsumi”, the characters mean “five flavours”, “five styles or “five experiences”. As “Gomi”, it refers to the five flavours sweet, salty, spicy, sour and bitter.
- 六塚（むつづか） – Read as “Mutsuzuka”, the characters mean “six mounds”, “six heaps” or “six tombs” amongst others.
- 六角（ろっかく） – Read as “Rokkaku”, it refers to a “hexagon”. The characters mean “six angles” or “six corners” amongst others.
- 六郷（ろくごう） – Read as “Rokugou”, the characters mean “six villages”, “six towns” or “six countries” amongst others.
- 六本木（ろっぽんぎ） – Read as “Roppongi”, the characters mean “six original stock” amongst others.
- 七草(さえぐさ) – Read as “Saegusa”, the characters mean “seven grass”, “seven herbs”, or “seven ninja” amongst others. As “Nanakusa”, it refers to seven seasonal (except for Summer) flowers.
- 七宝（しっぽう） – Read as “Shippou”, the characters refers to the “seven treasures”. That is: gold, silver, peals, agate, crystal, coral and lapis lazuli.
- 七夕（ななばた） – Read as “Nanabata”, the characters mean “seven nights” or “seven shaku” amongst others. It also refers to the “Festival of the Weaver” (7th July), or “Star Festival” too.
- 七瀬（ななせ） – Read as “Nanase”, the characters mean “seven torrents”, “seven opportunities” or “seven places” amongst others.
- 八代（やつしろ） – Read as “Yatsushiro”, the characters mean “eighth price”, “eight shiro”, “eighth world”, “eighth generation” or “eighth representative” amongst others.
- 八朔（はっさく） – Read as “Hassaku”, the characters refer to the “Hassaku orange” or the first of August.
- 八幡（はちまん） – Read as “Hachiman”, the characters mean “eight flags” and refers to a god of war “Hachiman”.
- 九島（くどう） – Read as “Kudou”, the characters mean “nine islands” or “nine territories”.
- 九鬼（くき） – Read as “Kuki”, the characters mean “nine demons” or “nine ogres”.
- 九頭見（くずみ） – Read as “Kuzumi”. At a lost on how to translate this one. It feels like it should be “nine outlooks for each head” or “nine views from the head”.
- 十文字（じゅうもんじ） – Read as “Juumonji”, the characters refer to any cross-shaped sign.
- 十山（とおやま） – Read as “Tooyama”, the characters mean “ten mountains” or “ten peaks” amongst others.
Of note is the family which has the name of “four” – a Japanese (and Chinese) sign for bad luck due to one of its readings being the same as “death” – of which there is only one family with that number.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!
Furthermore, Saegusa’s name is of note. It is not a conventional reading for the characters, which, as Mayumi aptly describes at the very beginning of the series as “read as Nana Kusa (seven grass) but read as Saegusa”. This is due to the Saegusas (七草) originally being Saegusa (三枝). 三枝– “Three branches”, “three twigs” or “three limbs”, in general, 3 long, thin objects. Their change in number sets the events of Volume 12’s story in motion.
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