Now Out: Essay 2070 on 椎 (spine) and 4 Revisions

The 376th essay has posted! Essay 2070 on 椎 (spine; Castanopsis) is now available for purchase. Here's a preview:

This kanji yokes two very disconnected topics. With its on-yomi, 椎 primarily represents “spine,” so it appears in terms related to vertebrae, spinal diseases, and disc herniation. But with its kun-yomi, 椎 means “Castanopsis,” a type of tree. In that world we discover delicious nuts that look like acorns and even find our way to shiitake mushrooms, which grow on Castanopsis logs.

I've also posted revisions to the following essays:

• essay 1021 on 越 (to cross over; exceed, surpass; move; Vietnam)
• essay 1227 on 玄 (mysterious; occultness; blackness; profound; “blackness” radical)
• essay 1651 on 塔 (tower; pagoda; monument)
• essay 1670 on 豚 (pig, pork)

Details about the changes are at the links. If you've bought these essays before or if you have a subscription, you can download new versions for free.

Ulrike has the week off and will return with more new-monics soon.