Whats in a name?

[Shonin]

Re: Whats in a name?

Question about the title "Sensei". My understanding is that it is different from the word for school teacher. A sensei is one who is either recognized and given title by another sensei ( regardless of whether it's gardening , martial arts, or anything else) or is named/accepted as such by the community. And that it is someone recognized for being above par so to speak. One who shows great skill in what they do. Also i understand it to be kinda like a teacher/master(in the sense of a master mechanic here in the US not like a slave master). But really no direct translation. Am curious to better understand the term.

Shonin _/_

[Jundo]

Re: Whats in a name?

Question about the title "Sensei". My understanding is that it is different from the word for school teacher. A sensei is one who is either recognized and given title by another sensei ( regardless of whether it's gardening , martial arts, or anything else) or is named/accepted as such by the community. And that it is someone recognized for being above par so to speak. One who shows great skill in what they do. Also i understand it to be kinda like a teacher/master(in the sense of a master mechanic here in the US not like a slave master). But really no direct translation. Am curious to better understand the term.

Shonin _/_

My experience is that It is used here in Japan is just as a respectful term for any school teacher, lawyer, doctor or politician, teacher of some art or skill such as the martial arts or flower arranging. Of course, each of those persons is recognized as you describe by their respective communities, so you are right, but it is used as a polite, but fairly informal term here ... much like I might call someone "a teacher" in English in either a formal or more general way. Leon's first grade teacher is called by us "Saito Sensei" ... same for all the teachers in the elementary school, regardless of age, experience or skill as a teacher.

[Shonin]

Re: Whats in a name?

Thanks for the info , Jundo. Perhaps what I hadheard is more in a traditional/formal context that doesn't so much apply to the modern age, or maybe whomever i got that info from had no idea what they were talking about.*shrugs*

Shonin _/_