鶏の空音

See also: 鷄の空音

Japanese

Kanji in this term
鶏	空	音
とり Grade: S	そら Grade: 1	ね Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
鷄の空音 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Based on Lord Mengchang's incident at Hangu Pass from the 史記 (Shiki, “Records of the Grand Historian”).^[1]

As Mengchang and his retainers escape king Zhao's men late at night, they reached the pass. Qin law states that guests are allowed to exit the pass only by the cries of the cock in the morning. One of Mengchang's retainers were able to imitate the cry, and did as such. This resulted in cocks around him starting to cry after one another, confusing the guards and making them open the gates. Mengchang (with fake credentials) and his retainers passed through safely.^[2]^[3]

Noun

鶏(とり)の空(そら)音(ね) • (tori no sorane)

the imitative cry of a cock
- 1086, Goshūi Wakashū (book 16, poem 939; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 62)
  夜(よ)をこめて鶏(とり)の空(そら)音(ね)ははかるとも世(よ)に逢坂(あふさか)の関(せき)はゆるさじ
  yo o komete tori no sorane wa hakaru tomo yo ni Ōsaka-no-seki wa yurusaji
  Even at night, if you were to do the false cries of the cocks, the guards of this age at the Ausaka tollgate will not let you pass.

References

^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
^ Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[1] Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[2] Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[3] Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

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