Talk:楽

Conflicting etymologies: I never heard about the one given here, and I have strong doubts about it. Other versions: 1) The original character was written as 樂, in the shape of a bell with a handle. The white part is the bell and the 幺（よう） on either side are the decorative threads. Originally, one would shake the bell during the Bugaku*, thus rejoicing in the glory of god. Additionally, the bell was used by shamans (a priestess who would enter a state of being possessed and cure ill omens and illnesses). The shamans would wave the bell and this would expel the curse of the disease. 2) BIS is a pictograph of an oak tree with acorns (ground into powder via a lengthy grinding process). Music and enjoyment are onomatopoeic, borrowed meanings, the sound of the character simulating the din of a crowd.