I would advise you to be aware of the dangers involved in indulging in linguistic mysticism and basing the meaning of Japanese terms on feelings you might have about the putative connections between Chinese characters or between/ among the elements of a particular character. The blogspot cited by Kit is especially dangerous in this respect.
Here is a selection of Japanese terms, all meaning 'principle': 主義 しゅぎ shugi (sometimes found at the end of terms and generally meaning -ism); 信念 しんねん shinnen; 原則 げんそく gensoku; 原理; げんり genri; 倫理; りんり rinri (used in compound expressions like 相対性理論: そうたいせいりんり: sou-tai-sei-rin-ri: The principle of relativity. There are many more.
Peter Goldsbury,
Forum Administrator,
Hiroshima, Japan