Henohenomoheji

Template:Transliteration

Henohenomoheji (Template:Langx Template:Respell) or hehenonomoheji (Template:Lang) is a face known to be drawn by Japanese schoolchildren using hiragana characters.<ref name="japab">Template:Cite web</ref> It became a popular drawing during the Edo period.<ref name="natsue">Template:Cite book</ref>

Composition

The word breaks down into seven hiragana characters: he (Template:Lang), no (Template:Lang), he (Template:Lang), no (Template:Lang), mo (Template:Lang), he (Template:Lang), and ji (Template:Lang). The first two he are the eyebrows, the two no are the eyes, the mo is a nose, and the last he is the mouth. The outline of the face is made by the character ji, its two short strokes (dakuten) forming the ear or cheek.

Henohenomoheji is often used to symbolize an undistinguished or generic human face, such as the faces of kakashi (scarecrows)<ref name="japab"/> and teru teru bōzu. The characters are often sung as they are drawn, making the Template:Transliteration an Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="natsue" />

Gallery

• 
  As a graffito
• 
  On a Template:Transliteration
• 
  On a scarecrow
• 
  An early example as a detail on a Template:Transliteration from the 19th century

See also

• Template:Annotated link
• Template:Annotated link
• Template:Annotated link
• Template:Annotated link
• Template:Annotated link
• Template:Annotated link

External links

• Template:Webarchive Template:In lang

Template:Japan-stub Template:Art-stub Template:Game-stub