1. Anthem of Japan vs. United Kingdom
National anthem of Japan: “Kimigayo”
May Japan's Reign
Last for ten thousand years
May her stones turn to rocks
May those rocks turn to boulders
May Japan Reign and Flourish
"Kimigayo" is Japan's national anthem. Its lyrics are based on a Waka poem written in the Heian period (794-1185), sung to a melody written in the later Meiji period. The anthem was legally realized in 1999.
Kimi" indicates the Emperor, who is the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people, and whose position is derived from the will of Japanese citizens, with whom sovereign power resides. The phrase "Kimigayo" indicates the State, Japan, which has the Emperor enthroned as the symbol of the State and of the unity of Japanese citizens. It is reasonable to take the lyric to mean the wish for the lasting prosperity and peace of the country. Kimigayo is also said to be symbol of Japanese imperialism and militarism (Wikipedia).
National Anthem of Britain: “God Save the Queen”
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the
Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over
us:
God save the Queen.
O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish
tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.
Thy choicest
gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May
she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen
The song is a typical patriotic song dedicated to the King and the Queen. The song reflects the importance of the King and the Queen to the British people, as they pray to God to give His help to the King and the Queen of the nation. To them, the King and Queen are the representatives for the Britain, the ones who will protect the people and the nation agaisnt outsiders and will uphold the nation. The song also reflects the main religion of the United Kingdom.
Both anthems are of nations with monarchy, and both of them wish for the long lasting of the kingdom reign and the royal family.
2) The national anthem of United States is a war song, and “the lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812” (Wikipedia). The song reflects the hard-fought wars that happened in the US for the sake of our independence and freedom. Throughout the song there is a proud voice of the Americans of their hard fight for their own liberty and individuality, which are the core values of this sweet land.
1 comment:
Hi Uyen - First, I need to see your interpretation of the anthems, not background information.
Second, as discussed in class, Wikipedia is not an acceptable resource for a college writing, as it can be publicly edited and is therefore unreliable.
Please add your own interpretation here.
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