On the spirit of words: hermeneutics as a way of Japanese Weltanschauung

The article deals with the Japanese philosophical concept of kotodama, and its role in comprehensive of reality. Starting with analysis of both koto and tama, which are parts of kotodama compound, I describe the place of tama conception in spiritual structure of Ancient Japan cosmos, comparing it with well known conception of kami. As a result, we understand that kotodama is a spirit of word, which can be taken out through the process of kotoage, which is clarified as well. Finally, observing the collocations of word kotodama in the Man'yoshu songs, I conclude that this conception is mentioned only in "geographical" context, but in "personal" one, and I can assume that on the early stage of its history Japan was impersonal oriented culture. Looking through a number of kotodama theories by different thinkers, I feature kotodama's central place is Japanese understanding of reality and its sociolingustical relation. During the analysis of the second part of compound - koto - I explicate the idea of ontologi-cal nondistinction that lies behind differences between subjective name and objective thing, and between sense and reference. To support this assumption some examples of proverbs, usage of kotodama conception and makurakotoba in Man'yoshu are provided. Basing on the idea of the true essence of things, which exists in their empirical givenness and in language, and truth is a fundamental principle, which enables a word to become a deed, I continue with the thesis on the philosophical hermeneutics which took the central part in interpretation not only of any text, but of speech as well. To summarize the review of kotodama concept, can I say that this lack of distinction between words and actions leads to linguistic transparency of being? Can we understand the language as a metaphysical act, thanks to which is possible persistent formation of being-in-the-world and our presence in it? We tend to believe that the emancipation from the ontological distinction of words and actions, expressed by koto, says that the language of Japanese philosophy does not know such formidable obstacles, which stood in front of the philosophical language, formed under the influence of the grammatical structures of the Greek and Latin languages and their ontological implications and superstitions. Such difference has a direct impact on the interpretation and understanding. The possibility of interpretation not only a verb as an action, but a noun and any word at all, fundamentally changes the process of understanding. I conclude that Japanese way of understanding is not a comprehension of judgment, but a philosophical hermeneutics - the unity of the said and intended, because "they call upon each other, and the meaning occurs in this roll..."

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