From the Kumamoto International Desk of Grounds for Arguing over Kanji: It’s that time of year when the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation chooses which kanji best represents the past 12 months, and for various (lame!) reasons, north （きた、北）was chosen. 北 is composed of two people carrying loads, back-to-back. Let me begin the argument over why 北 was an unfortunate choice by discussing the origin of the character. To do so, we must look to China, where kanji originated.
In Chinese tradition, the North Star - aka Polaris - symbolized the Chinese emperor. Thus, the emperor was always placed with his back oriented northward, and all spread from there southward. (The main gate at the Imperial Palace is on the south, and an artificial mount was built at the northern end.) Also, China traditionally faced its greatest dangers from the north - Mongols, Jurchen, Manchu - so combined with symbolism of the emperor, the meaning indicates a barrier against invasion.
When 北 is combined with 月 (which in this case indicates an individual), the result is 背, which means “back” - that is, turning away from the emperor, which was something not wisely done. The Great Wall in northern China - to the rear of the emperor - was built for a reason, and in both China and Japan, the north was used as a place of exile.
For these reasons, 北 carries the nuance of defeat. The kanji “haiboku” (敗北）literally means to lose and run away with ones back to the emperor. The phrase is interesting as it indicates a bit of tolerance on the emperor’s part - he sent his enemies scattering to the north and sat again with his back to them.
So the origin of 北 contains several rather negative nuances. To be sure, 2017 saw many setbacks, but we’re scattered, not defeated. Let’s hope 2018 will result in a more positive kanji. - William
