Japanese For Sitting

[Prince Loeffler]

My google fu is weak at this time,

Seiza is Kneeling position, and as I undertand "Zazen" is Sitting meditation, what would term used when just sitting in the same position but not meditating ?

Thanks in Advance !

[Neil Yamamoto]

As far as my bad japanese goes, "suwaru" is to sit, and here's an example I think I remember correctly: Dozo suwatte kudasai - Please sit down.

[don]

My google fu is weak at this time,

Seiza is Kneeling position, and as I undertand "Zazen" is Sitting meditation, what would term used when just sitting in the same position but not meditating ?

Thanks in Advance !
"I (he/she/it is) am sitting" would be "Suatte iru."

[Prince Loeffler]

Thanks guys ! I was looking somedown like " Sit" as Be in "sitting" position.

[Brian Owens]

..."sitting" position.
"Agura" may be what you're looking for.

It refers to the cross-legged way of sitting on the floor. It's considered acceptable for men in informal situations, when seiza isn't required. Women can sit in a seiza-like position but with feet to the side instead of under them; I don't know what that position is called.

HTH.

[Anders Pettersson]

The position when sitting as when you meditate is called hankafuza:
半跏趺坐 [はんかふざ] (n) (sitting in) the half lotus position (in Zen meditation)

Is that what you are looking for?

/Anders

[Josh Reyer]

I concur with Brian. I think Prince is looking for agura 胡坐.

[Prince Loeffler]

Special Thanks to Anders, I think Brian and John hits the nail right on the head. Jeez, I never how hard it was to look for basic translation. Thanks gentlemen !

[Brian Owens]

Just to further muddy the waters:

Sitting techniques in Budo are called suwariwaza, and when my sensei wanted us to sit down he would just say -- in the rather blunt way common in many dojo -- "suwarimas(u)."

Anders mentioned the half lotus posture, hankafuza. It would follow then, that the full lotus posture is kafuza.

Confusing, ne?

[Prince Loeffler]

Just to further muddy the waters:

Sitting techniques in Budo are called suwariwaza, and when my sensei wanted us to sit down he would just say -- in the rather blunt way common in many dojo -- "suwarimas(u)."

Anders mentioned the half lotus posture, hankafuza. It would follow then, that the full lotus posture is kafuza.

Confusing, ne?

Ok ? Oh Jeez ! :p BTW Brian, I am using my forehead to type this repsonse :p :p :p

[Anders Pettersson]

To add some more things about sitting in Japanese and Budo. :)

In Shorinjikempo we use idori [居捕] is a part of the name of each hōkei 法形 (pair form technique), that is done from a sitting position.

As a command from instructor to students to sit we use chakuza [着座], we then start by sitting in seiza [正座], if going to sit for a longer period the instructor usually say anza [安座] and you can sit more comfotable with your legs crossed.

/Anders

[Prince Loeffler]

if going to sit for a longer period the instructor usually say anza [安座] and you can sit more comfotable with your legs crossed.

/Anders

This was pretty much what I was looking for. But how is "Anza" different from "Agura" ?

BTW, I did ask some of my Japanese friends and they didn't know. ~sigh~

[Enfield]

Sitting techniques in Budo are called suwariwaza,I've also heard people say that zagi. Same kanji, but onyomi instead of kunyomi.

when my sensei wanted us to sit down he would just say -- in the rather blunt way common in many dojo -- "suwarimas(u)."My Japanese isn't stellar, but that sounds odd to me. He doesn't say "suwatte" (a "request") or "suware" (a command)? "Suwarimasu" seems more descriptive than imperative to me. And it's not blunt; -masu is the plain polite form of a verb.

[Josh Reyer]

This was pretty much what I was looking for. But how is "Anza" different from "Agura" ?

BTW, I did ask some of my Japanese friends and they didn't know. ~sigh~

How is "sit cross-legged" different from "sit Indian-style"? :)





when my sensei wanted us to sit down he would just say -- in the rather blunt way common in many dojo -- "suwarimas(u)."
My Japanese isn't stellar, but that sounds odd to me. He doesn't say "suwatte" (a "request") or "suware" (a command)? "Suwarimasu" seems more descriptive than imperative to me. And it's not blunt; -masu is the plain polite form of a verb.

Actually, in a certain context "suwarimasu" can be basic command. An instructor saying "suwatte" or "suware" can be simply telling his students to sit, while he will remain standing. "Suwarou" or "Suwarimashou" would be "Let's sit down", and would be fine, though a bit friendly and casual. But if the instructor is intending that everybody (including him) will sit down, then he may simply say "Suwarimasu", meaning "We will sit down now." Given the unequivocable nature of the statement, the sense is certainly blunter then the more typical "Suwarimashou".

[Brian Owens]

..."Suwarimasu" seems more descriptive than imperative to me. And it's not blunt; -masu is the plain polite form of a verb.
I don't speak the language, so I can't really say. Josh seemed to cover it well. I would say, though, that it's more blunt than "Dozo suwatte kudasai."