• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2017

The following summarizes the findings from an analysis of literature and 21 versions of the Bible published in Korea, China, and Japan to discuss the name of Myrtus communis. Myrtus communis was an important tree symbolizing love and resurrection since the Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Judas, Greece, Ancient Rome, and Medieval Spain. In the Bible, Myrtus ($h{\acute{a}}das$) was used to make the booths at the Feast of Tabernacles or for various ceremonies. Myrtus symbolized the people of Israel and also symbolized peace, appreciation, indestructibility, and resurrection. In the Bible of Korea, China, and Japan, Myrtus was translated into various names by time, such as '崗拈樹', '千里香', '鳥拈', '番石榴', 桃金孃, Gamtangnamu, Seoglyunamu, Hwaseoglyu, Sogwinamu. 'Myrtle' was translated into '桃金孃' based on Japan's "熟語本位 英和中?典(1915)" and it seems that the mistake was directly excerpted by the English-Korean Dictionary(1949) after the Liberation. According to the theory of 'Dynamic Equivalence' in translation, it would be best to use 'Myrtus' was the official name of Myrtus communis.