道場

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In many of the translators available including the Kodansha Japanese dictionary when seeing out the meaning of the characters/ideograms, etc., the English term used in translating is written, "doujou" in lieu of "dojo." Not really sure why they use the first term/word and it could be about phonetically spelling it to assist in the pronunciation but to date can't find that explanation. 

Doujou is then defined, in English, as follows. 

1. Doujou, hall used for martial arts training.

2. Manda (place of Buddhist practice or meditation, esp., the place under the bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment). 

3. Also, 菩提道場, meaning bodhi-manda (place of Buddhist practice or meditation, esp., the place under the bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment.) - Buddhism term

Words for everyone are important as a primary means, secondary only to body language, of communications. How words are selected and utilized, alone and in groups called sentences, etc., determine the perception and understanding of the recipients, i.e., students or practitioners, etc., when being conveyed. 

As with almost everything taught in a doujou, Asian as in China, Japan and Okinawa for karate, the definitions are derived from the general cultural belief systems of these folks be they Chinese, Japanese or Okinawan and that expands, as to words, to the other disciplines such as European, American, and the many other cultures such as ancient Greeks, etc.

What makes it even more critical is our analysis of such words and phrases to achieve understanding and provide transmission of said skills and knowledge and understanding from those very different cultural belief systems to one's we can use efficient, effectively and as valid to the original as possible. 

Like the term, "sensei," that has taken on a plethora of meanings due to misinterpretations or biases because our cultural system were exposed to them directly in a doujou environment and only through research can we begin to visualize them as terms not exclusive to the martial disciplines but to the very nature and culture and beliefs of the peoples who created them and then graciously transmitted them to us. 

Broken record me I may be and one of the lessons I attained over decades of study and practice is repeating such things in as many venues as possible to as many different folks as reachable helps to solidify and validate meaning and understanding so that transmission to those who would follow is achieved to a higher level of understanding for that is the way of historical transmission that illuminates another possible reason for things like kata, drills and other forms of physical-academic transmission. 

Which is correct, Dojo or Doujou? It depends and in general, both are correct!

Think about it because, "Belief is reality, change a belief and you change your reality!"

For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)