銘文(めいぶん)

めいぶん
noun
inscription; engraved text
culturehistory
1. inscription; engraved text
Text carved, engraved, or inscribed on a monument, artifact, bell, sword, or other durable object, typically recording names, dates, dedications, or historical information.
銘文(めいぶん)を読(よ)み解(と)く。
To decipher an inscription.
銅鐸(どうたく)には銘文(めいぶん)が刻(きざ)まれている。
An inscription is engraved on the bronze bell.
この刀(かたな)の銘文(めいぶん)から作者(さくしゃ)と年代(ねんだい)がわかった。
The inscription on this sword revealed the maker and the date.

A word from historical and archaeological contexts. In Japanese studies, 銘文(めいぶん) often refers to inscriptions on swords, bells, statues, and stone monuments that serve as primary historical sources.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 碑文(ひぶん): epitaph; monument inscription — specifically text on a stone monument or stele
  • 銘(めい): inscription; mark — shorter form, often used for maker's marks on swords and pottery
  • 刻印(こくいん): engraving; stamp — a broader term for any engraved or stamped mark

Related Words

Compare: 刻印(こくいん) (engraving)
general
Added 2026.4.29 1:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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