Japanese meaning of 山紫水明
Reading:
さんしすいめい (sanshi suimei)
English Translation:
Beautiful scenery with purple mountains and clear waters
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Scenic beauty: mountains tinged purple (at dusk) and limpid waters; an idyllic landscape.
Cultural Context:
Used in travel writing, place branding, shodō works; evokes classical aesthetics and seasonality (often associated with Kyoto and other historic locales).
山の紫がかった稜線と澄んだ水を讃える、風光明媚の形容。
旅記事や観光スローガン、書の題材で用いられる。古典的美意識と季節感を喚起（京都などの歴史都市の形容としても定番）。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase often used with “の地” to describe beautiful natural scenery.
Trap for English Speakers
May be interpreted literally without understanding its idiomatic praise of nature.
Example
Basic Example
この地は山紫水明の自然に恵まれている。
This area is blessed with beautiful scenery with purple mountains and clear waters.
Applied Example
この町は山紫水明の風景で知られている。
This town is known for its beautiful scenery of purple mountains and clear waters.