What is the meaning of the Japanese terminology for the frilled society finches? Five recognized classes of frills are bonten, chiyoda, chunagon, dainagon, and king. Interestingly, these terms are not descriptive of the mutations themselves, but have meaning in Japanese literature and set up a hierarchy of importance and value for each type of frill. Bonten (crested head ) - "Bonten" is the equivalent to "Brahma", a Hindu deity incorporated in the first century A.D. into Buddhist imagery. In the Indian Middle Ages, Brahma became one of the supreme figures of the Hindu pantheon, the lord of sacred knowledge. But in the Japanese Buddhist temples, statues of Bonten were paired with those of Indra as subordinate attendants of a Buddhist deity. Chiyoda (chest frill) - Chiyoda is the name of the location of the palace of the Emperor located in the center of Tokyo. The Chinese character for "Chiyoda" means an "eternal rice field", the symbol of wealth. Chunagon (head and neck frill) - The "Chunagon" is a "medium-rank" officer in the hierarchy of rule. In some literature this name is given to a series of ladies in waiting. Such attendants either helped other rulers or acted as intermediaries. Dainagon (head, neck, and chest frill) - The "Dainagon" is a high ranking officer or a Great Councilor. He must be honored. King (frilled everywhere) - Obviously, a word borrowed from English. The term is not universally applied in Japan. These birds cannot fly and in the minds of some breeders, pairings resulting in such birds should not be made. You will not see the King win at the show bench. |
