Karate
/kəˈrɑːti/
noun
Origin
Japanese
唐手 — Chinese hand
Overview
Meaning Now
- A system of unarmed combat using the hands and feet to deliver strikes, kicks, and blocks.
Literal older meaning
empty hand
Language path
Japanese
Earliest form
唐手
Earliest period
Early 20th century
Journey
The term originally used the kanji for 'Tang' or 'China' (唐手), reflecting the influence of Chinese martial arts on Okinawan Te. During the early 20th century, as the art was introduced to mainland Japan, the kanji were changed to 空手 (empty hand), which carries the same pronunciation but emphasizes the concept of fighting without weapons and reflects the spiritual aspect of self-discipline.
Evolution
- 18th–19th century Okinawa
Tōde
“Chinese hand”
Original Okinawan martial art derived from Chinese influence.
- 1930s Japan
空手
“Empty hand”
Gichin Funakoshi changed the kanji for 'Tō' (China/Tang) to 'Kara' (Empty) to align with Zen philosophy and Japanese nationalism.
Connections
Word parts
Kara
root
empty
te
root
hand
Related across languages
Chinese
Tangshou
Tang hand (historical precursor)
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Related to Karate
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.