Toryanse
Encyclopedia
is the name of the traditional Japanese children's tune (warabe uta
). It is a common choice for music played by traffic lights in Japan
when it is safe to cross.
The words to the song are:
There are many theories to the origin of the song, but all agree that it is a portrayal of an exchange between a civilian and a guard manning some sort of a checkpoint — at Kawagoe
Castle according to one theory. In the old days when infant mortality was high, people celebrated when a child survived to reach the age of 7 (as well as 3 and 5; see Shichi-Go-San
), and ordinary people were only allowed to visit the shrine within the castle compound for special occasions.
This particular warabe uta is sung as part of a traditional game where two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line (and back round again in circles). The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught'.
The tune being played at Japanese pedestrian crossings is an analogy to this game, i.e., it is safe to cross until the music stops.
Warabe uta
are traditional Japanese songs, similar to nursery rhymes. They are often sung as part of traditional children's games. They are described as a form of min'yo: traditional Japanese songs, usually sung without accompanying instruments....
). It is a common choice for music played by traffic lights in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
when it is safe to cross.
The words to the song are:
Japanese: | Romaji: | Translation: |
通りゃんせ 通りゃんせ | Tōryanse, tōryanse | Let me pass, let me pass |
ここはどこの 細通じゃ | Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja? | What is this narrow pathway here? |
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|
Tenjin (kami) In Japanese mythology and folklore, is the Shinto kami of scholarship, the deification of a scholar, poet, and politician named Sugawara no Michizane. Ten means sky and jin means god or deity... shrine |
ちっと通して 下しゃんせ | Chitto tōshite kudashanse | Please allow me to pass through |
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|
|
この子の七つの お祝いに | Kono ko no nanatsu no oiwai ni | To celebrate this child's 7th birthday |
お札を納めに まいります | O-fuda wo osame ni mairimasu | I've come to dedicate my offering |
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|
|
こわいながらも | Kowai nagara mo | It's scary but |
通りゃんせ 通りゃんせ | Tōryanse, tōryanse | Let me pass, let me pass |
通りゃんせ 通りゃんせ | Tōryanse, tōryanse | Let me pass, let me pass |
ここは冥府の細道じゃ | Koko wa meifu no hosomichi ja | Here is the underworld's narrow pathway |
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|
Demon call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism... 's shrine |
ちっと通して 下しゃんせ | Chitto tōshite kudashanse | Please allow me to pass through |
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|
|
この子の七つの弔いに | Kono ko no nanatsu no tomurai ni | To bury this child at age 7 |
供養を頼みに参ります | Kuyō wo tanomi ni mairimasu | I've come to offer my services |
|
|
|
こわいながらも | Kowai nagara mo | It's scary but |
通りゃんせ 通りゃんせ | Tōryanse, tōryanse | Let me pass, let me pass |
There are many theories to the origin of the song, but all agree that it is a portrayal of an exchange between a civilian and a guard manning some sort of a checkpoint — at Kawagoe
Kawagoe
Kawagoe may refer to two different locations in Japan:*Kawagoe, Mie, a town in Mie Prefecture*Kawagoe, Saitama, a city in Saitama Prefecture...
Castle according to one theory. In the old days when infant mortality was high, people celebrated when a child survived to reach the age of 7 (as well as 3 and 5; see Shichi-Go-San
Shichi-Go-San
is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys, held annually on November 15...
), and ordinary people were only allowed to visit the shrine within the castle compound for special occasions.
This particular warabe uta is sung as part of a traditional game where two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line (and back round again in circles). The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught'.
The tune being played at Japanese pedestrian crossings is an analogy to this game, i.e., it is safe to cross until the music stops.
Popular culture
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