伊豆
Izu Province
伊豆国 · いず
Province
Tokaido Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"That Bean/Exit"
True Etymology
The characters (伊, that; 豆, bean) are phonetic. The origin of 'Izu' is debated. One theory connects it to 'izu' meaning 'to go out' in archaic Japanese, referring to the peninsula jutting into the sea. Another traces it to a pre-Yamato word for the volcanic, geothermally active landscape.
Alternative Theory
The Izu Peninsula is geologically distinct—volcanically active, with numerous hot springs. Some scholars suggest 'izu' derives from an ancient word for 'heat' or 'steam,' a natural description of the hydrothermal geography before formal characters were assigned.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Tokaido |
|---|---|
| Reading | いず |
| Active Period | Ancient-1868 |