Rakugan
/ˌrɑːkʊˈɡɑːn/noun
A traditional Japanese sweet made from pressed, finely milled rice flour and sugar, often shaped decoratively.
Did you know?The name rakugan is written 落雁, “falling geese,” an image associated with classical East Asian poetry and seasonal autumn symbolism rather than with the ingredients themselves.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
落雁
“Falling geese; a poetic image used in classical literature”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
rakugan
“A Sino-Japanese reading of 落雁, literally “falling geese””
16th–17th Century
Japanese
落雁
“A refined pressed sweet made from rice flour and sugar”
Edo Period
Japanese
rakugan
“Decorative molded confection associated with tea culture and formal gift-giving”
20th Century
English
rakugan
“A Japanese confectionery term used in English-language writing”
Modern English
English
rakugan
“A traditional Japanese pressed rice-flour sweet”