西

Originally a compound of 去に (ini, “going away”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 去(い)ぬ (inu, “to go away”)) + し (shi, “wind; (by extension) direction”, as seen in other ancient-derived words as 嵐 (arashi, “storm”, literally “wild + wind”), 旋風 (tsumuji, “whirlwind”), 東 (higashi, “east”, from older pi muka si, literally “sun + facing + wind/direction”)).
First cited in the Kojiki of 712, with the phonetic spelling 爾斯 (nisi).

compound

(Buddhism) Synonym of 西方浄土 (Saihō Jōdo): the western paradise of Amitabha Buddha

西方浄土

(Buddhism) Short for 西本願寺 (Nishi Hongan-ji): a Buddhist temple in Kyoto


愛

From Middle Chinese 愛 (MC 'ojH).
Compare modern Mandarin 愛／爱 (ài).


安心

安心 (canonical)
anshin (romanization)
安心 (canonical)
anjin (romanization)

From Middle Chinese compound 安心 (*ʔan *sim). Compare modern Chinese 安心 (ānxīn).

安心決定: chanting the name of Buddha with purity of heart and mind

安心決定鈔: a two-volume scripture in Pure Land Buddhism

安心得道: achieving nirvana through equanimity of spirit

keeping an unperturbed mind through faith

安心無き読経は田中の蝦蟇の如し

a sutra recital without peace of mind is just like a toad in a paddy

anshin naki dokyō wa tanaka no gama no gotoshi, “→ reciting the sutras without having the proper spiritual mindset is as meaningful as the croaking of a toad in a rice paddy”


悪魔

From Middle Chinese 惡魔 (MC 'ak ma, literally “bad, evil + demon”).

ltc-l

(Buddhism) a mara, a demon seeking to prevent enlightenment


空

ja-noun

空(くう) • (kū)

From Middle Chinese 空 (MC khuwng|khuwngH).
The Buddhist senses are a translation of Sanskrit शून्यता (śūnyatā).

For pronunciation and definitions of 空 – see the following entry: 虚

For pronunciation and definitions of 空 – see the following entry: うつぼ

(Buddhism) sunyata: emptiness, vacuity, awareness, openness, thusness

(Buddhism) void: one of the 五大 (godai, literally “great five”) and the highest of the five elements


界

From Middle Chinese 界 (MC keajH, “boundary”).
In Buddhist contexts, derived from the Middle Chinese term used as a translation of Sanskrit धातु (dhātu, “layer, stratum”).

(Buddhism) the world or realm of a thing


神

→ English: kami

Ainu language
Japanese language
Korean language
Kyūjitai
Old Japanese language
Proto-Japonic language
Shinjitai

⟨kami₂⟩ → */kamɨ/ → /kami/
From Old Japanese, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *kamui.
Not related to 上 (kami₁ → kami, “top, upper”) or 髪 (kami, “hair”).
Often appears in compounds as kamu- or kan-, indicating that kami is an unbound form deriving from */kamui/. Such apophony has occurred in other Japanese terms, such as 目 (me, ma-, “eye”) or 酒 (sake, saka-, “sake, liquor”). See also WT:AJPX#Standalone forms and combining forms.
Compare Korean 검 (geom, “god, spirit”) and Ainu カムイ (kamuy, “god”).

(Shinto) a spirit or an essence present in all things, the main subject of worship of Shinto


神

Kyūjitai
Mandarin language
Middle Chinese language
Shinjitai

From Middle Chinese 神 (MC zyin). Compare modern Mandarin 神 (shén).


人間

→ English: ningen

From Middle Chinese 人間 (MC nyin kean|keanH). Analyzable as a compound of "people" + "among; space".
First cited to a text from 984. The kanji spelling is cited earlier in a kanbun passage in the Shoku Nihongi of 756, listed in some references with the reading jinkan. However, the extant copies of this work that include phonetic guides are centuries younger than this first date, raising the possibility that the ningen reading might itself date from 756.

(Buddhism) literally meaning: "human society", referring to one of the six realms of reincarnation in Buddhist cosmology (more commonly referred to with the jinkan reading)


心

/simʉ/ → */ɕimʉ/ → /ɕiɴ/
From Middle Chinese 心 (MC sim).
The Buddhist sense is a translation of Pali and Sanskrit चित्त (citta).


東

/ɸiŋɡaɕi/ → /ɸiɡaɕi/ → /hiɡaɕi/
Sound shift from hingashi (see Etymology 2 below).
Now the standard word for east.

(Buddhism) Short for 東本願寺 (Higashi Hongan-ji): a Buddhist temple in Shimogyō, Kyoto, Japan


串

/kusi/ → /kuɕi/
From Old Japanese. Appears in the Nihon Shoki, finished CE 720.
Cognate with 櫛 (kushi, “comb”).

其の御幣の串に書付て奉りたりける

sono gohei no kushi ni kakitsukete tatematsuritarikeru

That branch of streamers, written and presented...

any slender object that can pierce other objects, especially:

(Shinto) Short for 玉串 (tamagushi): a branch of a 榊 (sakaki) tree used as a Shinto offering


仏

Baekje
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Nihon Shoki

*⟨poto₂ke₂⟩ → */pətəkəi̯/ → /ɸotoke/ → /hotoke/
From Old Japanese, most likely from Proto-Koreanic *Pwutukye, hence related to modern Korean 부처 (Bucheo), Manchu ᡶᡠᠴᡳᡥᡳ (fucihi); see the Proto-Korean entry for more. The word was presumably disseminated by the Baekje people of southwestern Korea, who first introduced Buddhism to Japan. The first two syllables are ultimately from Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddhá), via Middle Chinese 佛陀 (MC bjut da) or some similar Sinitic form. Thomas Pellard speculates that the final element is an ancient Koreanic word for "king; lord".
The more traditional explanation still given in Japanese dictionaries is that the final ke element might be the Chinese-derived suffix 気 (ke, “spirit”), but a Koreanic explanation is more plausible.
First attested in the Nihon Shoki of 720 CE.

(Buddhism) a buddha (enlightened or awakened sentient being)

(Buddhism) a statue or image of any buddha

(Buddhism) performing a Buddhist memorial service


仏

(Buddhism) the Sakyamuni Buddha, Nepalese spiritual and philosophical teacher and founder of Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama

(Buddhism) any of the other buddhas named in Buddhist scriptures


仏

From Middle Chinese 佛 (MC bjut), shortened from 佛陀 (MC bjut da), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddha).

儒、仏、道


僧

僧(そう) • (sō)

Clipping of 僧伽 (sōgya), borrowed from Sanskrit संघ (saṃgha).


内

(Buddhism) Buddhist teachings on the inner self or ego, as opposed to non-Buddhist ones


力

From Middle Chinese 力 (lik). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing. Compare modern Cantonese reading lik⁶.

(Buddhism) capability, especially mystical power

(Buddhism) the suchness of ability, one of the Ten Suchnesses in Mahayana Buddhism


劫

劫 (canonical)
kō (romanization)
kofu (romanization)
こふ (hiragana historical)

/kopu/ → /kofu/ → */kowu/ → /koː/
From Middle Chinese 劫 (MC kjaep), short form of 劫波 (MC kjaep pa), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit कल्प (kalpa, “aeon”).

(Buddhism) kalpa: a unit of time in Buddhist cosmology


劫

劫 (canonical)
gō (romanization)
gofu (romanization)
ごふ (hiragana historical)

/ɡopu/ → /ɡofu/ → */ɡowu/ → /ɡoː/
Possibly a shift from kō above.


口

(Buddhism) (by extension) one's speech, one's words


唵

唵 (canonical)
唵 (canonical)
on (romanization)

*/om/ → /omu/ → /oɴ/
From Middle Chinese 唵 ('om^X), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit ॐ (oṃ).
The goon pronunciation, so likely the initial borrowing.


喝

(Buddhism) an interjection uttered by Zen Buddhist masters to scold their students


塔

塔 (canonical)
tō (romanization)
tafu (romanization)
たふ (hiragana historical)

/tapu/ → /taɸu/ → */tawu/ → /tau/ → /tɔː/ → /toː/
From Middle Chinese 塔 (MC thap, “tower, pagoda, spire”).
An abbreviation for 卒塔婆 (sotoba, sotōba), a transliteration of Sanskrit स्तूप (stūpa, “heap”).

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塔は下から組め

no good building without a good foundation; build a tower from the bottom up


塔

塔 (canonical)
-tō (romanization)
-tafu (romanization)
たふ (hiragana historical)


塵

塵 (canonical)
jin (romanization)
ぢん (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 塵 (MC drin). First attested in a Buddhist text from the 600s.


境

境 (canonical)
kyō (romanization)
kyau (romanization)
きやう (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) something that can be perceived with the mind or senses


夏

From Middle Chinese 夏 (MC haeH). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.
Also used in the Man'yōshū (759 CE) as 借音 (shakuon) kana for ⟨ge₁⟩.

(Buddhism) summer according to the lunisolar calendar; the ninety days starting from the sixteenth day of the fourth month until the fifteenth day of the seventh month


外

(Buddhism) non-Buddhist teachings or texts


天

From Middle Chinese 天 (MC then, “sky; heavens”). Compare modern Mandarin reading tiān.

天狗: long-nosed yōkai of Japanese mythology

天変地異

an extraordinary natural phenomenon or occurrence

天道

the world of heavenly gods; the world of devas

天部

大黒天

弁才天


宮

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
ja:松村明

/mi₁ya/ → /miya/
From Old Japanese. A compound of 神 or 御 (mi, “spiritual honorific”) + 屋 (ya, “house”).

compound

Miya. ミヤ (宮) 神 (Camis)の社.

(Shinto) the place where a god resides: a shrine

(Buddhism) a temple holding a Buddhist statue


密

From Middle Chinese 密 (MC mit).
First cited to a text from 1092.

(Buddhism) the teachings of esoteric Buddhism


寺

Second grade kyōiku kanji (romanization)

Tanjō Temple: any of various Buddhist temple

寺印

the official stamp or seal of a Buddhist temple


寺

寺 (canonical)
tera (romanization)
軒 (counter)

Daijirin
Daijisen
Man'yōshū
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Nihon Shoki
ja:松村明

From Old Japanese. Appears in the Nihon Shoki of 720 CE, and in the Man'yōshū, completed some time after 759 CE.
There are various theories regarding the ultimate derivation.
* Some sources derive Japanese tera from an ancestor of Middle Korean 졀 (jeol) (likely Baekje). This is from earlier 뎔 (dyeol, “temple”) and is the nativised reading of 찰 (刹, chal, “Buddhist temple”) below, deriving in turn from Middle Chinese 剎 (MC tsrhaet), shortened from 剎多羅 (MC tsrhaet ta la, “Buddhist monastery, temple or shrine”), borrowed from Sanskrit क्षेत्र (kṣetra, “land, area, domain”), from Proto-Indo-Aryan *ṭṣáytram, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *ćšáytram, from Proto-Indo-European *tḱéytrom.
* Other sources describe Japanese tera as cognate with modern Korean 찰 (刹, chal, “temple”), appearing as a component in terms such as 선찰 (禪刹, seonchal, “Zen temple”), 사찰 (寺刹, sachal, “Buddhist temple”).
* Another derivation is given as Pali thera (“elders”) in reference to the monks.
Considering the phonetic development in Korean, the avenues for transmission of Buddhist terms to Japan, and the consistent temple sense of the Japanese term throughout recorded history, the now-obsolete Korean 뎔 (dyeol, “temple”) may be a more likely source than Pali thera (“elders”).


尊

From Old Japanese.
Derived from 御 (mi-, honorific prefix) + 事 (koto, “thing, matter”).

高皇産霊尊

高皇産霊 たかみむすひの

(Shinto) indicates respect and reverence, such as to the 神 (kami, “Shinto deity”) or the 天皇 (tennō, “Emperor of Japan”): Highness


尊

From Middle Chinese 尊 (MC tswon).
Compare modern Mandarin 尊 (zūn).


幣

(Shinto) paper or cloth offered on skewers before a shrine (see also 幣(へい) (hei))


幣

(Shinto) a staff with cut paper streamers, offered to the gods


幣

[mʲite̞ɡɯ̟ɾa̠]

(Shinto, historical) material, non-comestible offerings to the gods, often textiles


庵

/am/ → /amu/ → /aɴ/
From Middle Chinese 庵 (MC 'om).

(Buddhism) a priest's quarter attached to a large Zen temple


弓

Bow (music)
Bow and arrow
Man'yōshū
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Yumi
ja:弓 (楽器)
ja:弓 (武器)

From Old Japanese, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *yumi. Appears in the Man'yōshū (c. 759 CE), with a phonetic spelling of 由美 ⟨yumi₁⟩, */yumʲi/.

梓弓

a bow made from the wood of the Japanese cherry birch (Betula grossa

破魔弓

a traditional Shintō ceremonial bow for dispel evil

鏃 (yajiri): arrowhead; 簳 (yagara): arrow-shaft; 羽 (hane): arrow-fletching

仗, 杖: yumi stave; 弦: yumi bowstring; 矢: an arrow; 靫): a quiver; 胸当て: kyudo plastron/chestguard; 弽: kyudo glove; 弩

(Shinto) a type of kagura (sacred Shinto song and dance) intended to drive away evil


律

From Middle Chinese 律 (MC lwit).
The Buddhist senses are a translation of Sanskrit विनय (vinaya, “discipline, guidance, humility”).

der

(Buddhism) a set of rules for a monastic community

(Buddhism) Short for 律蔵 (Ritsuzō): the Vinaya Piṭaka, one of the Tripitaka

律蔵

(Buddhism) Short for 律儀, 律義 (ritsugi): translation of Sanskrit संवर (saṃvara),


律

(Buddhism) rules of discipline for a monastic community


律

(Buddhism) Short for 律宗 (Risshū): the Risshū school of Buddhism


斎

(Buddhism) meals exchanged between priests and parishioners


斎

From Old Japanese.
Nominalization of the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 斎く (itsuku, “to worship”).

破夜歩佐波阿梅珥能朋利等弭箇既梨伊莵岐餓宇倍能娑奘岐等羅佐泥

阿梅珥能朋利 あめにのぼり

娑奘岐等羅佐泥 さざきとらさね

hayabusa wa ame ni nobori tobikakeri itsuki ga ue no sazaki torasane

(Shinto) Short for 斎皇女 (itsuki no miko):


斎

From Old Japanese. Possibly a doublet of 斎 (yu) below.

(Shinto) added to spiritual nouns to indicate purity and holiness: holy, pure, sacred


斎

From Old Japanese. Possibly a doublet of 斎 (i) above.


明

明 (canonical)
myō (romanization)
myau (romanization)
みやう (hiragana historical)

/mʲau/ → /mʲɔː/ → /mʲoː/
From Middle Chinese 明 (MC mjaeng).
The Buddhist senses are a translation of Sanskrit विद्या (vidyā, “knowledge, wisdom”).

(Buddhism) passing of knowledge, scholarship, or study


明

(Buddhism) knowledge or wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance and brings to the realization of truth; enlightenment


有

有 (canonical)
yū (romanization)
iu (romanization)
いう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 有 (MC hjuwX). The sense “and, with a remainder of” is from Middle Chinese 有 / 又 (MC hjuwH).
The kan'on pronunciation, so likely a later borrowing.


有

From Middle Chinese 有 (MC hjuwX).
The goon pronunciation, so likely the initial borrowing.


果

果 (canonical)
ka (romanization)
kwa (romanization)
くわ (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) phala, attained state, result

(Buddhism) enlightenment (as the fruits of one's Buddhist practice)


根

From Middle Chinese 根 (MC kon). First cited in Japanese contexts in the 法華義疏 (Hokke Gisho) dated to 615, a commentary on the Buddhist Lotus Sutra that was written in Classical Chinese.

(Buddhism) the original motive force leading to perception of something by the five senses or by thought


棒

棒 (canonical)
bō (romanization)
bau (romanization)
ばう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 棒 (MC baewngX). The goon pronunciation, so likely an earlier borrowing.

(Buddhism) staff used by practitioners of Zen Buddhism


業

業 (canonical)
gō (romanization)
gofu (romanization)
ごふ (hiragana historical)

業によりて果を引く

you reap what you sow, what goes around comes around

/ɡopu/ → /ɡofu/ → /ɡou/ → /ɡoː/
From Middle Chinese 業 (MC ngjaep). The goon, so likely an earlier borrowing. Translation from the Sanskrit term कर्मन् (kárman, “act, action, performance”).

業が煮える, 業が煎れる, 業が湧く

to be irritated, to be annoyed, to get angry

業の風

the powerful wind of sin that blow in hell

業の秤

a mythological scale that weighs the sins of the dead

業を曝す

to endure shame in this life as karma for sins committed in a previous life


業

From Old Japanese. Found in the Man'yōshū, completed some time after 759 CE.


機

From Middle Chinese 機 /机 (kjɨj, “mechanism; opportunity, chance”). Compare modern Min Nan reading ki.

(Buddhism) the moment of being moved into action by the teachings of the Buddha: see 機根 (kikon)


檀

(Buddhism) Short for 檀那 (danna, “generosity, almsgiving”).


次

Nominalization of the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of Old Japanese-derived verb 次く (suku, “to follow, to continue from something, to be next;”).
The verb form was obsolete even in olden times. Existence of the verb, possibly related to tsugu mentioned above, is inferred from placenames found in the Man'yōshū and other ancient poetry.

(Shinto) at the 大嘗祭 (Daijōsai) and other major Shintō ceremonies, refers to the group of regional representatives making offerings of sake and grain, who do so after the initial offering


殯

(Shinto) A funerary practice of enshrining the deceased in a casket at a special location during a period of mourning before a formal burial, specifically for royalty or nobility


法

法 (canonical)
hō (romanization)
fafu (romanization)
はふ (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 法 (MC pjop). Originally, the kan'on was はふ (fafu), and the goon was ほふ (fofu), although both became ほう (hō) in modern Japanese. It is suggested that the kan'on was used in the general senses, while the goon was used in Buddhist contexts.


漏

Translation of Sanskrit आस्रव (āsrava), cognate of Pali āsava. Literally, “leaks”. Compare 有漏(うろ) (uro) and 無漏(むろ) (muro).

(Buddhism) mental impurities (āsava) or earthly desires (klesha)


灯

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 明かす (akasu, “to go through the whole night”).

(Shinto, Buddhism) a light (or lighted lamp) offered to a kami or buddha


無

→ English: mu

From Middle Chinese 無 (MC mju). The 呉音 (goon), so likely an earlier borrowing.

(Buddhism) mu; the null set: neither yes nor no (in response to a koan or other question that mistakenly assumes an affirmative or negative answer).


異

From Middle Chinese 異 (MC yiH). Compare modern Mandarin 異 /异 (yì, /i⁵¹/), Cantonese 異 /异 (ji⁶, /jiː²²/).

(Buddhism) change or disease, one of the four states or avasthā


痴

From Middle Chinese 痴 (MC trhi). Compare modern Mandarin 痴 (chī).
The Buddhist sense is a translation of Sanskrit मोह (moha, “folly, ignorance”) or मूढ (mūḍha, “fool”).

(Buddhism) ignorance, one of the three roots of the vice dharmas


禅

Shortened from 禅那 (zenna, “Zen meditation practice”), from Middle Chinese 禪那 (MC dzyen na), a transliteration of Sanskrit ध्यान (dhyāna, “profound meditation”). Compare Pali jhāna.

野狐禅

someone who has not fully attained enlightenment, but puts on airs and becomes self-important as if they have

(Buddhism) the disciplines and doctrine of Zen Buddhism


禅

→ English: Zen

→ French: zen

→ German: Zen

→ Spanish: Zen

→ Thai: เซน (seen), เซ็น (sen)

(Buddhism) Short for 禅宗 (Zenshū): Zen Buddhism


禊

→ English: misogi

From Old Japanese, though the original pronunciation of the initial miso is likely unknown.
The term itself is derived from the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 禊ぐ (misogu, “to perform ablutions (on someone)”, archaic).
Some sources suggest that this might be derived further from a compound of 身 (mi, “body”) + 注ぎ (sosogi, “pouring over, into, onto”), or alternatively from 水 (mi, “water”) + 注ぎ (sosogi, “pouring over, into, onto”). Considering that 身 had an ancient reading of ⟨mi₂⟩, while 水 had an ancient reading of ⟨mi₁⟩, the latter is a better potential match.

恋せじと御手洗川にせしみそぎ神はうけずぞなりにけらしも

koiseji to mitarashigawa ni seshi misogi kami ni ukezu zo narinikerashi mo

Longing [or “loving”] no more and purified by ritual ablution at the river of cleansing, the gods seemed to accept it not at the end.

(Shinto) a form of ritual purification performed with water; compare English ablution

風そよぐならの小川の夕暮れはみそぎぞ夏のしるしなりける

kaze soyogu Nara-no-ogawa no yūgure wa misogi zo natsu no shirushi narikeru

Rustling winds among the oak [leaves] at river Nara dusk-eventime; the lustration rites are but a sign ’tis still summertime.

(Shinto, particularly) a purification ritual held in shrines on the last day of the sixth lunar month


粽

Compound of 茅(ち) (chi, short for chigaya, "cogon") + 巻(まき) (maki, “wrapping”).
Originally, rice cakes were wrapped in leaves from cogon grass.

ja-compound

(Buddhism, architecture) Short for 粽形 (chimaki-gata): a Zen-style pillar with rounded edges on the top and bottom parts


経

経 (canonical)
kyō (romanization)
kyau (romanization)
きやう (hiragana historical)

/kʲeu/ → /kjau/ → /kjɔː/ → /kjoː/
From Middle Chinese 經 (MC keng|kengH). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.
The Buddhist senses are a translation of Sanskrit सूत्र (sūtra, literally “string, thread”) or Pali sutta (literally “string, thread”).

der

(Buddhism) a sutra (Buddhist scripture):

a discourse of the Gautama Buddha, one of the Twelve Divisions of Mahayana Buddhism

契経

discourse of the Buddha, division of Tripitaka

short for 経蔵 (Kyōzō): the Sutta Pitaka, one of the three divisions of the Tripitaka

経蔵

collective term for Buddhist literature including sutras in general

(Buddhism, by extension of reading sutras) a Buddhist service or rite


色

Middle Chinese language
Sanskrit language

From Middle Chinese 色 (MC srik). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.
The Buddhist sense is translation of Sanskrit रूप (rūpa, “outward appearance, color, form, shape”).

色彩

coloring, coloration, hue, tint; color, mood, influence, leaning

色紙

a square piece of cardboard used for painting or for writing poems

色調

the coloring of a thing; a tone, shade, or hue

舍利子。色不異空。空不異色。色即是空。空即是色。受想行識亦復如是。

7th century, Heart Sutra (translation by Xuanzang)

Sariputra, form is not different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from form. That which is form is empty; that which is emptiness is form. This is also true for sensation, perception, intention, and awareness.

Sharishi, shiki fu i kū, kū fu i shiki. Shiki soku ze kū, kū soku ze shiki. Ju-sō-gyō-shiki, yaku bu nyoze.

(Buddhism) material form, specifically the organized body as one of the five constituent elements or skandhas


苦

From Middle Chinese 苦 (khu^X, “suffering”).


蓮

Daijirin
Kyūjitai
Nelumbo nucifera
Shinjitai
Tōkyō
ja:ハス

Originally a compound of 蜂 (hachi, “bee”) + 巣 (su, “nest, hive”), literally “beehive, honeycomb”, from the way the lotus seed resembles a honeycomb.

(Buddhism, particularly Pure Land Buddhism) a lotus bloom in the realm of Sukhāvatī (“Land of Ultimate Bliss”), as an expression of reincarnation


蘊

From Middle Chinese 蘊 (MC 'jun).
The Buddhist sense is a translation of Sanskrit स्कन्ध (skandha, “collection, grouping, heap”) or Pali khandha (“collection, heap”). See entry at 五蘊 (goun).


行

行 (canonical)
gyō (romanization)
gyau (romanization)
ぎやう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 行 (MC haeng). First cited in Buddhist texts of the early 600s.
The pronunciation is goon, so likely an earlier borrowing.
* For the "formations" definition, translation of Sanskrit संस्कार (saṃskāra)
* For "austerities", translation of Sanskrit चर्या (caryā)
* For "walking", translation of Sanskrit गमन (gamana)

(Buddhism) saṅkhāra: formations, mental activity; one of the 五蘊 (goun, “five skandhas”)

(Buddhism) caryā: austerities; practice or discipline for enlightenment

(Buddhism) gamana: manner of going forward or walking


襅

/tipaja/ → /t͡ɕifaja/ → /t͡ɕihaja/
First attested in the Wamyō Ruijushō (938 CE).
Probably related to verb 千早ぶ (chihayabu, “to move or act ferociously, with terrible godly power”), itself an alteration from 逸早ぶ (ichihayabu, “to move or act quickly and strongly”), deriving from adjective 逸早し (ichihayashi, “strong and fast; extremely fast”).

(Shinto) a ceremonial overcoat with unsewn sides, worn by shrine maidens for certain ceremonies such as kagura


襷

(archaic, Shinto) a shoulder-tied cord, to mark one's purification to serve the gods


観

観 (canonical)
kan (romanization)
kwan (romanization)
くわん (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 觀 /观 (kwan, “look”).


証

ja-noun

証(しょう) • (shō)


誓

誓 (canonical)
ukei (romanization)
ukefi (romanization)
うけひ (hiragana historical)

アマテラスとスサノオの誓約

(archaic, Shinto, Japanese mythology) an "oath", a ritual in which whether something is true or false, right or wrong, good or evil, etc. is judged based on whether the stated outcome of an act comes true as expected


量

量 (canonical)
ryō (romanization)
ryau (romanization)
りやう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 量 (MC ljangH, “measure”).

比量


鐃

鐃 (canonical)
nyō (romanization)
neu (romanization)
ねう (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) a kind of gong used at Buddhist temples


鐃

鐃 (canonical)
dō (romanization)
dau (romanization)
だう (hiragana historical)


鑁

(Buddhism) Vairocana. (only used for the word "鑁阿", ban-na)


闇

From Middle Chinese 闇 (MC 'omH, “dark”).

(Buddhism) darkness, as a metaphor for worldly desires


静

静 (canonical)
jō (romanization)
zyau (romanization)
じやう (hiragana historical)

/d͡ʑʲau/ → /d͡ʑɔː/ → /d͡ʑoː/
From Middle Chinese 靜 (MC dzjengX). The goon, so an earlier borrowing than the sei reading.
First attested as a standalone noun in a text from roughly 1216.

(Buddhism) equanimity, upekkhā, a state untroubled by attachment or aversion


魂

魂(たましい) • (tamashī) ^(←たましひ (tamasifi)?)

魂 (canonical)
tamashī (romanization)
tamasifi (romanization)
たましひ (hiragana historical)

⟨tamasipi₁⟩ → */tamasipʲi/ → /tamaɕifi/ → /tamaɕiwi/ → /tamaɕiː/
From Old Japanese.
Compound of 魂 (tama, “soul, spirit”, see below) and an uncertain shii, possibly 強ひ (shihi → shii), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of classical verb 強ふ (shifu → shiu), modern 強いる (shiiru, “to force, compel”).

the word is primary known through the idiosyncratic romanization

the title of the video game Katamari Damacy

多麻之比波安之多由布敝尓多麻布礼杼安我牟祢伊多之古非能之氣吉尓

安之多由布敝尓 あしたゆふへに

安我牟祢伊多之 あがむねいたし

古非能之氣吉尓 こひのしげきに

tamashī wa ashita-yūbe ni tamafuredo aga mune itashi koi no shigeki ni


魄

2004 June 15, Rumiko Takahashi, “第(だい)１話(わ) 試(し)作(さく) [Chapter 1: Prototypes]”, in 犬(いぬ)夜(や)叉(しゃ) [Inuyasha], volume 35 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 8:

Kon is the heart… in other words, the soul. And haku is the force that moves the body…

魂は心…つまり魂だ。そして魄は体を動かす力…

Kon wa kokoro… Tsumari tamashī da. Soshite haku wa karada o ugokasu chikara…

As long as it has this haku thing, even a soulless corpse can move.

魄ってやつがあれば、魂のない死骸でも動くんだな。

Haku tte yatsu ga areba, tamashī no nai shigai de mo ugoku n da na.

(religion, folklore) po (haku), the soul which does not leave the body after death, compared to hun (kon) which does.


遊戯

遊戯 (canonical)
遊戯 (canonical)
yuge (romanization)
yuke (romanization)

/jiu ke/ → /juke/ ↔ /juɡe/
Likely the oldest borrowing from Middle Chinese 遊戲 (MC yuw xje), attested in Heian period literature.

(Buddhism) freedom, said of the Buddha, bodhisattvas, or other enlightened beings


修羅

修羅霊

the spirit of a demi-god or of a demi-demon

(Buddhism) Asura (a demigod of the lowest class)

(Buddhism) short for 修羅道 (shuradō, “realm of Asura; one of the six realms of reincarnation in Buddhism”).


仮名

仮名 (canonical)
kemyō (romanization)
kemyau (romanization)
けみやう (hiragana historical)

/kemjau/ → /kemjɔː/ → /kemjoː/
From Middle Chinese 假名 (MC kaeX|kaeH mjieng, literally “borrowed; false + name”) 假名 (kæ^X mjieng, literally “borrowed; false + name”). The goon reading, so probably an earlier borrowing from Chinese. Compare modern Min Nan reading ké-miâ.
The Buddhist sense derives from use of this term in Chinese as a translation of Sanskrit प्रज्ञप्ति (prajñapti, “appointing → provisional naming”), used in some Buddhist schools to refer to the practice of conceptualising and naming things that are not real.

cog

(Buddhism) the conceptualisation and provisional naming of things that are not real; something so named


人道

From nin (人, people, mankind) + dō (道, plane of existence).

(Buddhism) Life as a human: one of the six planes or domains of existence in the cycle of samsara.


世界

From Middle Chinese 世界 (MC syejH keajH), originally a translation of Sanskrit लोकधातु (lokadhātu, “region or part of the world”). Compare Hokkien 世界 (sè-kài).

世界遺産条約

Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

世界一

best in the world, most (adjective) in the world

世界気象機関: the World Meteorological Organization

世界語

universal language, international language

世界自然保護基金: the World Wide Fund for Nature

世界中

throughout the world, all the world, worldwide

世界知的所有権機関: the World Intellectual Property Organization

世界連

in line with the rest of the world, normal

世界労働組合連盟: the World Federation of Trade Unions

there are no leftover women in the world; said particularly to women

世界に余った女は無い: → there is someone for everyone

世界に鬼は無い: → the world is not full of heartless people

and there are many kind souls who will lend a hand

世界は大戯場の如し

the world is just like a big theatre → all the world's a stage

世界は張り物

the world is starched clothes → it's all about appearances, clothes make the man

世界は回り持ち

the world comes in turns → all things come to those who wait, to everything there is a season

世界半分自惚れしっかり

of the world, only halfway, but full of conceit → being full of oneself without bothering to learn much about the world

世界我が物

the world is one's possession → acting as if one owns the world

万象

all things, all of the universe, every manifestation of nature

(Buddhism) the four inner realms of 須弥山 (Shumisen)


少女

From Old Japanese. Originally a compound of 乙 (oto, “young, little”) + 女 (me, “female, girl”). Compare 男 (otoko, “man”), originally meaning "young boy".

少女さび

behavior appropriate to an adult unmarried woman

a type of sea vegetable in order Ectocarpales

young woman who dances kagura at a shrine

少女文楽

少女文楽 おとめぶんらく

a kind of one-person puppet show performed by girls or young women

(Shinto) a young woman dancer performing at the 五節 (Gosechi) ceremony in the eleventh lunar month


ハム

Daijisen
ja:ハム (曖昧さ回避)
ja:ハム (聖書)
ja:松村明


比丘

Borrowed from Pali bhikkhu, from Sanskrit भिक्षु (bhikṣu).


和尚

ja-noun

和(か)尚(しょう) • (kashō) ^(←くわしやう (kwasyau)?)

和尚 (canonical)
kashō (romanization)
kwasyau (romanization)
くわしやう (hiragana historical)

(Tendai or Kegon Buddhism) preceptor; high priest


和尚

和尚 (canonical)
wajō (romanization)
wazyau (romanization)
わじやう (hiragana historical)

(Shingon, Hosso, Ritsu or Shin Buddhism) preceptor; high priest


菩薩

/bosatɨ/ → /bosatʉ/ → /bosat͡sʉ/ → /bosat͡su/
Shift from bosachi below, adopting the kan'on reading for the second character, possibly indicating a later borrowing or other influence from Middle Chinese. Ultimately from Sanskrit बोधिसत्त्व (bodhi-sattva, literally “enlightened existence”) or Pali bodhisatta.
Compare modern Cantonese 菩薩 /菩萨 (pou⁴ saat³).

妙見菩薩

妙見菩薩 みょうけんぼさつ

(Buddhism) Short for 菩提薩埵 (bodai-satta): a bodhisattva


菩薩

/bosatɨ/ → /bosat͡ɕi/
From Middle Chinese 菩薩 (MC bu sat), an abbreviation of 菩提薩埵 (MC bu dej sat twaX), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit बोधिसत्त्व (bodhi-sattva, literally “enlightened existence”) or Pali bodhisatta. Uses the goon for both characters, indicating an earlier borrowing from Middle Chinese than the bosatsu reading above.

阿彌陀仏けうしのほさちおのおの白たんしてつくり奉りたる...

Amida-butsu kyōshi no bosachi onoono byakutan shite tsukuri tatematsuritaru...

(Buddhism, obsolete) Short for 菩提薩埵 (bodai-satta): a bodhisattva


摩訶薩埵

摩訶薩埵 (canonical)
makasatta (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 摩訶薩埵 (MC ma xa sat twaX), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit महासत्त्व (mahāsattva, “great creature; great being”).

bor

(Buddhism) Synonym of 摩訶薩 (makasatsu): a great bodhisattva


不思議

ja-adj

不(ふ)思(し)議(ぎ) • (fushigi) -na (adnominal 不(ふ)思(し)議(ぎ)な (fushigi na), adverbial 不(ふ)思(し)議(ぎ)に (fushigi ni))

不思議 (canonical)
fushigi (romanization)
不思議な (adnominal)
不思議に (adverbial)
不思議だろ (imperfective stem)
ふしぎだろ (imperfective stem)
fushigi daro (imperfective)
不思議で (continuative stem)
ふしぎで (continuative stem)
fushigi de (continuative)
不思議だ (stem terminative)
ふしぎだ (stem terminative)
fushigi da (terminative)
不思議な (attributive stem)
ふしぎな (attributive stem)
fushigi na (attributive)
不思議なら (hypothetical stem)
ふしぎなら (hypothetical stem)
fushigi nara (hypothetical)
不思議であれ (imperative stem)
ふしぎであれ (imperative stem)
fushigi de are (imperative)
不思議ではない (informal negative)
不思議じゃない (informal negative)
ふしぎではない (informal negative)
ふしぎじゃない (informal negative)
fushigi de wa nai (informal negative)
fushigi ja nai (informal negative)
不思議だった (informal past)
ふしぎだった (informal past)
fushigi datta (informal past)
不思議ではなかった (informal negative past)
不思議じゃなかった (informal negative past)
ふしぎではなかった (informal negative past)
ふしぎじゃなかった (informal negative past)
fushigi de wa nakatta (informal negative past)
fushigi ja nakatta (informal negative past)
不思議です (formal)
ふしぎです (formal)
fushigi desu (formal)
不思議ではありません (formal negative)
不思議じゃありません (formal negative)
ふしぎではありません (formal negative)
ふしぎじゃありません (formal negative)
fushigi de wa arimasen (formal negative)
fushigi ja arimasen (formal negative)
不思議でした (formal past)
ふしぎでした (formal past)
fushigi deshita (formal past)
不思議ではありませんでした (formal negative past)
不思議じゃありませんでした (formal negative past)
ふしぎではありませんでした (formal negative past)
ふしぎじゃありませんでした (formal negative past)
fushigi de wa arimasen deshita (formal negative past)
fushigi ja arimasen deshita (formal negative past)
不思議で (conjunctive)
ふしぎで (conjunctive)
fushigi de (conjunctive)
不思議なら（ば） (conditional)
ふしぎなら（ば） (conditional)
fushigi nara (ba) (conditional)
不思議だったら (conditional past)
ふしぎだったら (conditional past)
fushigi dattara (conditional past)
不思議だろう (volitional)
ふしぎだろう (volitional)
fushigi darō (volitional)
不思議に (adverbial)
ふしぎに (adverbial)
fushigi ni (adverbial)
不思議さ (noun-from-adj)
ふしぎさ (noun-from-adj)
fushigisa (noun-from-adj)

ja-adj-infl

不思議

. で は ありません でした

. じゃ ありません でした

Contracted from 不可思議 (fuka shigi, literally “unfathomable”), equivalent to 不(ふ) (fu-) + 思議(しぎ) (shigi).

…弘誓深如海。歴劫不思議。侍多千億仏。発大清浄願…

406, Lotus Sutra (chapter 25, translation by Kumārajīva)

His great vow is as deep as the sea, unfathomable even after eons. Serving many hundreds of billions of buddhas, he has made a great pure vow.

…guzei jin nyo kai, ryakkō fushigi, ji ta sennoku butsu, hotsu dai-shōjō gan…

(Buddhism) Short for 不可思議 (fuka shigi): beyond human recognition or understanding; ineffable


未来

From Middle Chinese 未來 (MC mj+jH loj). Originally a Buddhist calque of Sanskrit अनागत (anāgata, “not yet come; future”, past participle), from अन्- (an-, “not”) + आगत (āgata, “what has come”), from the verb root आगम् (āgam, “to come”).

calque

(Buddhism) the future, one of the three existences


大人

From Middle Chinese 大人 (dɑiᴴ ȵiɪn, literally “big, great + person”). Compare modern Hakka 大人 (thai-ngìn).
The goon reading, so likely an earlier borrowing.


印象

印象 (canonical)
inzō (romanization)
inzau (romanization)
いんざう (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) the act of a clear image or form appearing, as if impressed like a stamp; also refers to such a shape

(Buddhism) the act of printing an image of a Buddha (statue), or the printed image of a Buddha (statue) itself


悪口

悪口 (canonical)
akku (romanization)
akuku (romanization)
あくく (hiragana historical)

From Buddhism, one of the 十(じゅう)悪(あく) (jūaku, “ten evils”).

(Buddhism) the evil from the mouth, the use of malicious gossip


言語

言語 (canonical)
gongo (romanization)
ごんご (hiragana historical)


天女

From Middle Chinese 天女 (MC then nrjoX|nrjoH, literally “heavenly female; deva female”).


那由他

(Buddhism, historical) extremely large number, usually interpreted as the number 10²⁸


恒河沙

[ɡo̞ːɡa̠ɕa̠]

From Middle Chinese 恆河沙 (MC hong ha srae), calque of Sanskrit गंगानदी वालुका (gaṃgānadī vālukā, “sand of the Ganges River”).
The current usage as the number 10⁵² was first fixed by the Jinkōki (塵劫記), 1634.

cog

गंगानदी वालुका

(etymology, Buddhism) a metaphor of the extremely large number


法王

法王 (canonical)
-hōō (romanization)
-fofwau (romanization)
ほふわう (hiragana historical)

ダライ・ラマ法王

(religion) a religious Leader (Lit. "King of the Law (Dharma)")


布団

→ Arabic: فُوتُون (futūn)

→ Mandarin: 布團 /布团 (bùtuán)

→ English: futon

→ Finnish: futon

→ French: futon

→ German: Futon

→ Korean: 후톤 (huton)

→ Marathi: फुतोन (phuton)

→ Russian: футо́н (futón)

→ Spanish: futón

→ Welsh: ffŵton

Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
futon
ja:布団

Borrowed from written Chinese, possibly early Mandarin 蒲團／蒲团 (pútuán), likely as part of the importation of Zen Buddhism, for which practice these were originally used. First cited in Japanese to a text from the early-mid 1200s with the "meditation cushion" sense.
Originally referred literally to a 蒲 (pú, “bulrush, cattail”) 團／团 (tuán, “ball”), from the way these were round cushions made from woven bulrush leaves.
After the term was borrowed, the usage and construction of these cushions changed and the connection with bulrushes was weakened, leading to the simpler character 布 (fu, “cloth”) being used as a replacement for 蒲 (fu, “bulrush, cattail”).

zh-l

蒲團／蒲团 (pútuán)

敷き布団

mattress, bedroll; spreading / lying-down futon

(Buddhism, specifically Zen) a round cushion made of woven bulrush leaves, used for zazen seated Zen meditation


神主

ja-noun

神(かん)主(ぬし) • (kannushi) ^(←かむぬし (kamunusi)?)

神主 (canonical)
kannushi (romanization)
kamunusi (romanization)
しんしゅ (alternative hiragana)
shinshu (Rōmaji)
かむぬし (hiragana historical)


神通力

神(じん)通(つう)力(りき) or 神(じん)通(ずう)力(りき) • (jintsūriki or jinzūriki)

神通力 (canonical)
神通力 (canonical)
jintsūriki (romanization)
jinzūriki (romanization)

[d͡ʑĩnt͡sɨːɾʲikʲi]

[d͡ʑĩnd͡zɨːɾʲikʲi]

Compound of 神通 (jintsū, “superpower, divine or occult power or talent”, where jintsū is the older reading for modern jinzū) + 力 (riki, “power”).


神器

(Shinto) an item used in Shinto ceremonies to worship a god


畜生

ja-noun

畜(ちく)生(しょう) • (chikushō) ^(←ちくしやう (tikusyau)?)

畜生 (canonical)
chikushō (romanization)
tikusyau (romanization)
ちくしやう (hiragana historical)

[t͡ɕi̥kɯ̟ɕo̞ː]

/tikusjau/ → /t͡ɕikusjoː/
From Middle Chinese 畜生 (MC trhjuwH sraeng, literally “livestock + livestock; sacrificial animal”), itself influenced by Sanskrit तिर्यञ्च् (tiryañc, “a beast; the organic world”) or Sanskrit तिर्यग्योनि (tiryagyoni, “animal creation”).

der

(Buddhism) a beast: a generic term for animals, birds, fish and insects, as the reincarnated form of one who had bad karma in a previous life


冥土

(Buddhism) Hades; underworld; the world of the dead


老師

老師 (canonical)
rōshi (romanization)
rausi (romanization)
らうし (hiragana historical)

/rauɕi/ → /rɔːɕi/ → /roːɕi/
From Middle Chinese compound 老師 (MC lawX srij). Compare modern Mandarin 老師 /老师 (lǎoshī).

(Buddhism) an elderly monk, especially one who is learned and virtuous


玄関

ja-noun

玄(げん)関(かん) • (genkan) ^(←げんくわん (genkwan)?)

玄関 (canonical)
genkan (romanization)
genkwan (romanization)
げんくわん (hiragana historical)

→ English: genkan

(Buddhism) the entrance to a profound path; in particular an introduction to the Zen Buddhist discipline

(Buddhism) the entrance to a Zen Buddhist temple


題目

From Middle Chinese 題目 (MC dej|dejH mjuwk).

南無妙法蓮華経 南無妙法蓮華経#Japanese

妙法蓮華経 妙法蓮華経#Japanese

(Buddhism) in Nichiren Buddhism, the chanting of the 南無妙法蓮華経 (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō, “Glory to the Lotus Sutra”) and the 妙法蓮華経 (Myōhō Renge Kyō, “Lotus Sutra”)


空想

空想 (canonical)
kūsō (romanization)
kuusau (romanization)
くうさう (hiragana historical)

Meiji era
Mohe Zhiguan
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Rangaku

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 空想 (khuwng sjang^X, literally “fictional, fabricated + think, thought”).
The sense of fantasy is first cited in Japanese to 1886, and probably reflects a Rangaku and Meiji era style of repurposing older terminology to translate unfamiliar Western concepts.
The Buddhist sense is older, and was borrowed into Japanese along with various Chinese Buddhist texts. This term is included in the 摩訶止観 (Maka Shikan), better known in English by its Chinese pronunciation, the Mohe Zhiguan, completed some time in the early 600s.

der

(Buddhism) thought that exhibits attachment to sunyata


空想

ja-verb-suru

空(くう)想(そう)する • (kūsō suru) ^(←くうさう (kuusau)?)suru (stem 空(くう)想(そう)し (kūsō shi), past 空(くう)想(そう)した (kūsō shita))

空想する (canonical)
kūsō suru (romanization)
kuusau (romanization)
空想し (stem)
空想した (past)
空想し
くうそうし
kūsō shi
空想する
くうそうする
kūsō suru
空想すれ
くうそうすれ
kūsō sure
空想せよ (imperative literary)
空想しろ (colloquial imperative)
くうそうせよ (imperative literary)
くうそうしろ (colloquial imperative)
kūsō seyo (imperative literary)
kūsō shiro (colloquial imperative)
空想される (passive)
くうそうされる (passive)
kūsō sareru (passive)
空想させる (causative)
空想さす (causative)
くうそうさせる (causative)
くうそうさす (causative)
kūsō saseru (causative)
kūsō sasu (causative)
空想できる (potential)
くうそうできる (potential)
kūsō dekiru (potential)
空想しよう (volitional)
くうそうしよう (volitional)
kūsō shiyō (volitional)
空想しない (negative)
くうそうしない (negative)
kūsō shinai (negative)
空想せず (continuative negative)
くうそうせず (continuative negative)
kūsō sezu (continuative negative)
空想します (formal)
くうそうします (formal)
kūsō shimasu (formal)
空想した (perfective)
くうそうした (perfective)
kūsō shita (perfective)
空想して (conjunctive)
くうそうして (conjunctive)
kūsō shite (conjunctive)
空想すれば (conditional hypothetical)
くうそうすれば (conditional hypothetical)
kūsō sureba (conditional hypothetical)

(Buddhism) to think in a way that exhibits attachment to sunyata


江湖

江湖 (canonical)
kōko (romanization)
kauko (romanization)
かうこ (hiragana historical)


江湖

江湖 (canonical)
gōko (romanization)
gauko (romanization)
がうこ (hiragana historical)


天国

[tẽ̞ŋɡo̞kɯ̟]

行きたい天国？

1995 June 1 [1993 April 17], Yōzaburō Kanari with Satō, Fumiya, “オペラ座(ざ)館(かん)殺(さつ)人(じん)事(じ)件(けん)⑥(ろく) [The Opera House Murder Case #6]”, in 金(きん)田(だ)一(いち)少(しょう)年(ねん)の事(じ)件(けん)簿(ぼ) [The Kindaichi Case Files], 14th edition, volume 2 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN:

...Don’t... I don’t want help... I... didn’t mean to kill Ogata-sensei... She had nothing to do with all this... I can go where Fuyuko is now... Then again... there’s no way I’ll make it to heaven like this, is there...

‥いらん‥助かりたくない 俺は‥‥ 関係のない緒方先生まで手にかけてしまったんだ‥‥このまま冬子のいる所へ‥‥‥‥といっても‥こんな俺が天国なんて行けるわけねえか‥‥

‥Iran‥ Tasukaritaku nai Ore wa‥‥ kankei no nai Ogata Sensei made te ni kakete shimatta n da‥‥ Kono mama Fuyuko no iru tokoro e‥‥ ‥‥To itte mo‥ konna ore ga tengoku nante ikeru wake nē ka‥‥

2000 August 10, Yūma Andō with Asaki, Masashi, “BREAK(ブレイク).41(よんじゅういち) ケンカの神(かみ)様(さま) [Break 41: God of the Brawl]”, in サイコメトラーEIJI(エイジ) [Psychometrer Eiji], volume 24 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha, →ISBN:

そうだ 満足か？

そうだ 満足か？

そうだ 満足か？

そうだ 満足か？

そうだ 満足か？

そうだ 満足か？

そうだ 満足か？


水神

Probably from Middle Chinese 水神 (MC sywijX zyin, literally “water god”).

ltc-l

There are numerous such kami.

(mythology, Shinto): a Japanese god of water


我慢

Gaman (term)
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:我慢


阿修羅

ja-noun

阿(あ)修(しゅ)羅(ら) or 阿(あ)修(す)羅(ら) or 阿修羅(アスラ) • (ashura or asura)

阿修羅 (canonical)
阿修羅 (canonical)
阿修羅 (canonical)
ashura (romanization)
asura (romanization)

From Chinese 阿修羅 /阿修罗 (āxiūluó), from Sanskrit असुर (asura).

ja:アスラ ja:阿修羅


後生

後生 (canonical)
goshō (romanization)
gosyau (romanization)
ごしやう (hiragana historical)

後生だから。


心地

心(しん)地(じ) or 心(しん)地(ち) • (shinji or shinchi) ^(←しんぢ (sindi)?)

心地 (canonical)
心地 (canonical)
shinji (romanization)
shinchi (romanization)
sindi (romanization)
しんぢ (hiragana historical)

/siːm diː/ → /simdi/ → /ɕimd͡ʑi/ → /ɕiɲd͡ʑi/
From Middle Chinese 心地 (MC sim dijH).

(Buddhism)
(Buddhism)
(Buddhism)
(Zen Buddhism)


心眼

心(しん)眼(げん) • (shingen) ^(←しんげん (singen)?)

心眼 (canonical)
shingen (romanization)
singen (romanization)
しんげん (hiragana historical)


邪魔

Originally a Buddhist term, imported into Japanese when Buddhism was introduced to Japan, some time during the Kofun, Asuka, and Nara periods.
From Middle Chinese 邪魔 (*zia mɑ, literally “wrong, evil, perverse” + “devil, demon”). Compare modern Mandarin 邪魔 (xiémó).

ja-etym-buddhist

(Buddhism) a demon or devil of perversity, a hindrance to the practice of Buddhism


弟子

From Middle Chinese 弟子 (MC dejX tsiX). Probably the initial borrowing.

(Buddhism) on a mala or Buddhist rosary, the ten small beads closest to the end of the portion that hangs free from the largest bead


仏陀

ja-pos

仏(ぶつ)陀(だ) or 仏陀(ブッダ) • (Butsuda or Budda)

仏陀 (canonical)
仏陀 (canonical)
Butsuda (romanization)
Budda (romanization)

Borrowed from Pali buddha or Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddhá). The kanji is ateji (当て字), from Chinese 佛陀 (Fótuó).

2008 July 16 [2008 January 23], Hikaru Nakamura, “その２ 最聖珍道中 [Chapter 2: The Ultimate Holy Journey]”, in [聖](セイント)☆おにいさん [Saint☆Young Men], 6th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Kodansha:

Buddha, the Enlightened. Jesus, Son of God. They are widely regarded as the founders of Buddhism and Christianity, respectively.

目覚めた人ブッダ 神の子イエス 言わずと知れた仏教とキリスト教の祖である

Mezameta hito Budda Kami no ko Iesu Iwazu to shireta Bukkyō to Kirisuto-kyō no so de aru


火車

火車 (canonical)
kasha (romanization)
kwasya (romanization)
くわしや (hiragana historical)

/kua t͡ɕia/ → /kʷaɕʲa/ → /kaɕa/
From Middle Chinese compound 火車 (MC xwaX tsyhae).
The "steam locomotive" sense is a semantic loan from modern Chinese 火車 /火车 (huǒchē).

(Buddhism) a fiery chariot that brings sinners to hell; by extension, a form of torture using this vehicle


真実

[ɕĩɲ̟d͡ʑit͡sɨ]

真実一路

真実一路 しんじついちろ

(Buddhism) Synonym of 真如 (shinnyo, “suchness”)


餓鬼

餓鬼 (canonical)
餓鬼 (canonical)
gaki (romanization)

Borrowing from Middle Chinese compound 餓鬼 (MC ngaH kjw+jX, “hungry + ghost”). Compare modern Min Nan reading gō-kúi. The Chinese term derives from the importation of Buddhism into China, as a translation of Sanskrit प्रेत (preta).

(Buddhism) short for 餓鬼道 (gakidō): the hungry ghost realm, one of the six realms of reincarnation in Buddhist cosmology

餓鬼道

(Buddhism) a preta: the spirit of a jealous or greedy person who, as punishment for mortal vices, has been cursed with insatiable hunger

(Buddhism) the souls of the dead who languish in oblivion without any surviving relatives to pray for their peace


無心

(Buddhism) setting free one's mind from distracting thoughts


多神教

ja-noun

多(た)神(しん)教(きょう) • (tashinkyō) ^(←たしんけう (tasinkeu)?)

多神教 (canonical)
tashinkyō (romanization)
tasinkeu (romanization)
たしんけう (hiragana historical)

[ta̠ɕĩŋʲkʲo̞ː]

From 多 (ta-, “poly-; multi-”) + 神 (shin, “god”) + 教 (-kyō, “religion”).


二神教

二神教 (canonical)
nishinkyō (romanization)

(religion) ditheism (a belief in two gods)


一神教

一(いっ)神(しん)教(きょう) • (isshinkyō) ^(←いつしんけう (itusinkeu)?)

一神教 (canonical)
isshinkyō (romanization)
itusinkeu (romanization)
いつしんけう (hiragana historical)

[iɕːĩŋʲkʲo̞ː]

From 一 (itsu-, “mono-; uni-”) + 神 (shin, “god”) + 教 (-kyō, “religion”).


食堂

食(じき)堂(どう) • (jikidō) ^(←じきだう (zikidau)?)

食堂 (canonical)
jikidō (romanization)
zikidau (romanization)
じきだう (hiragana historical)

/d͡ʑikidau/ → /d͡ʑikidɔː/ → /d͡ʑikidoː/
From Middle Chinese 食堂 (MC zyik dang). First attested in 747.

(Buddhism) refectory in a Buddhist temple


イスラエル

[isɨɾa̠e̞ɾɯ̟]

(biblical) Israel (a Biblical region of Western Asia roughly coextensive with the modern State of Israel, known in the Bible as the Land of Israel and considered the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people)

ミカエル（Ｍｉｃｈａｅｌ）
ユダヤ教(きょう)・キリスト教(きょう)・イスラム教(きょう)の天(てん)使(し)の名(な)。旧(きゅう)約(やく)聖(せい)書(しょ)ではイスラエルの守(しゅ)護(ご)天(てん)使(し)とされ、新(しん)約(やく)聖(せい)書(しょ)ではサタンとの闘(たたか)いを指(し)揮(き)する
その役(やく)割(わり)から武(ぶ)装(そう)した青(せい)年(ねん)の姿(すがた)をとって描(ねが)かれることが多(おお)い

1996 June 15 [1995 October 10], Narita, Minako, “ＳＣＥＮＥ.１ ミカエルという名(な)の生(い)き物(もの) [SCENE.1 A Living Namesake of Archangel Michael]”, in ＮＡＴＵＲＡＬ(ナチュラル), 3rd edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Hakusensha, →ISBN, page 100:

Michael
The name of an angel in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He is regarded as the Guardian Angel of Israel as per the Old Testament, and he is said to have commanded the forces against Satan as per the New Testament
As such, he is commonly depicted as an armed young man

Mikaeru (Michael)
Yudaya-kyō, Kirisuto-kyō, Isuramu-kyō no tenshi no na. Kyūyaku Seisho de wa Isuraeru no Shugo Tenshi to sare, Shin’yaku Seisho de wa Satan to no tatakai o shikisuru
Sono yakuwari kara busōshita seinen no sugata o totte negakareru koto ga ōi


無神論

無神論 (canonical)
mushinron (romanization)

[mɯ̟ɕĩn̺ɾõ̞ɴ]

無 (mu-, “un-; -less”) + 神 (shin, “god”) + 論 (-ron, “theory”)

af

無神論は東欧によく広がっています。

mushinron wa Tōō ni yoku hirogatteimasu.

Atheism is spreading well on Eastern Europe.


大師

(Buddhism, formal) Great teacher; great or silent master.


天狗

desc

→ Chinese: 天狗 (tiāngǒu) (reborrowed for the Japanese sense)

→ English: tengu

→ French: tengu

→ Korean: 텐구 (ten'gu)

→ Russian: тэ́нгу (tɛ́ngu)

Nihon Shoki
Shugendō
Tengu
Tiangou
ja:天狗

From Middle Chinese 天狗 (MC then kuwX, “heaven + dog”). First appears in the Nihon Shoki (720 CE).
The Chinese version of tengu (Tiangou) was originally more of a dog-like spirit or falling star. As the term and idea were imported into Japanese, the character became associated with 修験道 (“Shugendō, a kind of syncretism of Buddhist and native Japanese elements”), and the Japanese tengu changed to resemble either a long-nosed 山伏 (yamabushi, “mountain monk”, a practitioner of Shugendō) with bright-red skin, or a crow.

天狗蝙蝠: Murina hilgendorfi

天狗蝙蝠 テングコウモリ

天狗星

a kind of shooting star, one that includes a loud sound and a bright light

a place on a tree where many small branch grow

1999 September 23, “カラス天(てん)狗(ぐ) [Crow Tengu]”, in Vol.5, Konami:

An omniscient tengu. They say it uses divine power.

様々なことを知っている天狗。神通力が使えるという。

Samazama na koto o shitte iru tengu. Jintsūriki ga tsukaeru to iu.

(Japanese mythology, Shinto, folklore) a tengu, a mythical Japanese creature, typically birdlike and having a long nose


地蔵

地蔵 (canonical)
Jizō (romanization)
Dizau (romanization)
ぢざう (hiragana historical)

/dizau/ → /d͡ʑizɔː/ → /d͡ʑizoː/
Calque of Sanskrit क्षितिगर्भ (Kṣitigarbha, literally “earth womb”).

calque

(Buddhism) Short for 地蔵菩薩 (Jizō Bosatsu): Ksitigarbha, the bodhisattva who looks over children, pregnant women, travelers, and the underworld


初心

From 初 (sho, “beginning stages”) + 心 (shin, “heart”).

(Buddhism) open, eager attitude to learning, as if one is a beginner


羯磨

*/kɨatɨ mʷa/ → /katuma/ → /kat͡suma/
From Middle Chinese 羯磨 (MC kjot ma), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit कर्मन् (karman, literally “act, action”).
This pronunciation is prevalent in many Japanese schools of Buddhism, Tendai and Jōdo-shū to name a few.

bor

(Buddhism) karma:
a person's actions, deeds, works, etc.

confessions and/or vows to follow Buddhist precepts

(Buddhism) karma:
Short for 羯磨金剛 (katsuma kongō):


羯磨

(Shingon Buddhism) karma: same as 羯磨(かつま) (katsuma) above


高祖

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 高祖 (MC kaw tsuX).
First cited in Japanese in 1120.

玄孫: a descendant four generations down: a great-great-grandchild


聖人

ja-noun

聖(しょう)人(にん) • (shōnin) ^(←しやうにん (syaunin)?)

聖人 (canonical)
shōnin (romanization)
syaunin (romanization)
しやうにん (hiragana historical)
せいじん (alternative hiragana)
seijin (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)

From 聖 (shō, sei, “holy; sacred”) + 人 (nin, jin, “person”), from Chinese 聖人 /圣人 (shèngrén).

af

(Buddhism) a term used to refer to Buddha or a bodhisattva


帷子

Compound of 片 (kata, “side; one-sided”) + 枚 (hira, “layer, thin flat thing”).
The kanji for this word are an example of jukujikun (熟字訓), from 帷 (tobari, “curtain”) and 子 (ko, “small thing”).

compound

(Buddhism) a special white kimono used to dress the dead for a Buddhist funeral, inscribed with the person's honorary name, an excerpt from a sutra, or a portion of a chant


天人

(Buddhism, mythology) heavenly spirits from Buddhist heaven


司馬

Holonym: 三公

(historical, government, religion, military) a position in feudal China, responsible for certain bureaucratic, religious and military affairs


自行

自行 (canonical)
jigyō (romanization)
zigyau (romanization)
じぎやう (hiragana historical)


鬼神

ja-noun

鬼(き)神(じん) or 鬼(き)神(しん) • (kijin or kishin)

鬼神 (canonical)
鬼神 (canonical)
kijin (romanization)
kishin (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 鬼神 (MC kjw+jX zyin, “devil, devilish + god, spirit”).

ltc-l

(Buddhism) someone with superhuman power or ability, such as Śakra, the ruler of heaven, or a rakshasa or demon


聴衆

ja-noun

聴(ちょう)衆(じゅ) or 聴衆(ちょうしゅ) • (chōju or chōshu) ^(←ちやうじゆ (tyauzyu)?)

聴衆 (canonical)
聴衆 (canonical)
chōju (romanization)
chōshu (romanization)
tyauzyu (romanization)
ちやうじゆ (hiragana historical)


中道

中(ちゅう)道(どう) • (chūdō) ^(←ちゆうだう (tyuudau)?)

中道 (canonical)
chūdō (romanization)
tyuudau (romanization)
ちゆうだう (hiragana historical)

ja:中道 ja:中道政治


般若

般若 (canonical)
般若 (canonical)
hannya (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 般若 (MC pan nyaeX) or 般若 (MC paen nyaeX), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit प्रज्ञा (prajñā) or Pali paññā (“wisdom”).

般若湯

hannyatō, obscure Buddhist priest jargon for

(Buddhism) prajñā, Buddhist transcendental wisdom


不可知論

不可知論 (canonical)
fukachiron (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟̊ka̠t͡ɕiɾõ̞ɴ]

不可知 (fukachi, “unknowable”) + 論 (-ron, “theory”)


般若波羅蜜多

ja-noun

般(はん)若(にゃ)波(は)羅(ら)蜜(みっ)多(た) or 般若波羅蜜多(はんにゃはらみた) • (hannya haramitta or hannya haramita)

般若波羅蜜多 (canonical)
般若波羅蜜多 (canonical)
hannya haramitta (romanization)
hannya haramita (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 般若波羅蜜多, itself a transcription from Sanskrit प्रज्ञापारमिता (prajñāpāramitā).

der

प्रज्ञापारमिता

観自在菩薩。行深般若波羅蜜多時。照見五蘊皆空。度一切苦厄。...

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, while dwelling in the deep Perfection of Wisdom, sees clearly that the five skandhas are all empty and is thus freed from all suffering.

Kanjizai Bosatsu gyō jin hannya haramitta ji shōken goun kai kū do issai kuyaku...

(Buddhism) prajnaparamita: the Perfection of (Transcendent) Wisdom

(Buddhism) the body of sutras relating to this subject


道場

ja-noun

道(どう)場(じょう) • (dōjō) ^(←だうぢやう (daudyau)?)

道場 (canonical)
dōjō (romanization)
daudyau (romanization)
だうぢやう (hiragana historical)

→ English: dojo

→ Russian: додзё (dodzjó)

→ French: dojo

→ Polish: dojo

/daudiau/ → /dɔːd͡ʑɔː/ → /doːʑoː/
From Middle Chinese 道場 (MC dawX drjang, literally “way + place”), itself originally a translation of Sanskrit बोधिमण्ड (bodhimaṇḍa, “seat of wisdom”).

der

place where a buddha has achieved enlightenment

a building or facility for ascetic training

(Buddhism) Short for 菩提道場 (bodai-dōjō):
(by extension) a Buddhist temple

Short for 菩提道場 (bodai-dōjō):
a Buddhist temple


神通

神通 (canonical)
jinzū (romanization)
zinduu (romanization)
じんづう (hiragana historical)
神通 (canonical)
jintsū (romanization)

[d͡ʑĩnd͡zɨː]

From Middle Chinese 神通. First cited to a work from 810.

(Buddhism) a superpower, a divine or special talent or power, specifically one of the six abhijñā (“supernatural powers”) gained through Buddhist practice


観音

ja-pos

観(かん)音(のん) • (Kannon) ^(←くわんおん (Kwan'on)?)

観音 (canonical)
Kannon (romanization)
Kwan'on (romanization)
くわんおん (hiragana historical)

English: Kannon, Kwannon

/kwan.omʉ/ → /kwan.on/ → /kwanːon/ → /kanːoɴ/
From Middle Chinese 觀音 (kwan ʔim). The on reading for 音 changes to non as an instance of renjō (連声).
Origianlly a shortening of 観世音 (Kanzeon, literally “perceiver of the world's sounds”), itself a calque of Sanskrit अवलोकितेश्वर (Avalokiteśvara).

calque

अवलोकितेश्वर

観世音菩薩 観世音菩薩#Japanese

(Buddhism) Short for 観世音菩薩 (Kanzeon Bosatsu): Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion; also known in some cultures as Guanyin, the goddess of mercy


上座部

[d͡ʑo̞ːza̠bɯ̟]


悲観

From Middle Chinese 悲觀 (“compassionate view”, literally “view of pity”), a Buddhist term. Compare 慈悲 (jihi, “compassion”). Reanalyzed as 悲 (“sadness”) + 観 (“outlook”).

der

(Buddhism) a compassionate world view that motivates individuals to help and eliminate suffering


三綱

役僧

Buddhist priest with administrative duties

三綱五常

三綱五常 さんこうごじょう

three bonds and five virtues of Confucianism

(Buddhism) three priests who administer certain Buddhist temples


真空

From Old Japanese, in turn from Middle Chinese 真空 (MC tsyin khuwng).
First attested in the 懐風藻 (Kaifūsō) anthology of Sinitic poetry written by Japanese authors, compiled in 751.
The modern sense of vacuum is first attested in 1876.

(Buddhism) sunyata: void, emptiness, non-existence; also, in the early Buddhist schools, enlightenment, nirvana


小僧

From 小 (ko, "small," "little") + 僧 (sō, "bonze," "Buddhist monk").

門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む: a saint's maid quotes Latin


火災

火災 (canonical)
kasai (romanization)
kwasai (romanization)
くわさい (hiragana historical)

/kwasai/ → /kasai/
From Middle Chinese compound 火災 (xwa^X tsoj). Compare modern Mandarin reading huǒzāi.

火災救助袋

a cloth escape chute installed in tall buildings in Japan to facilitate escape from a fire

火災予防条例

a fire prevention law or ordinance, a fire code

(Buddhism) one of the three major calamities that destroy the world


七宝

(Buddhism) the seven treasures: gold, silver, pearls, agate, crystal, coral, lapis lazuli.


縁起

縁起 (canonical)
engi (romanization)
えんぎ (hiragana historical)

縁起棚

a shelf set up for display good luck charms, usually by a geisha, performer, or shopkeeper


弥勒

From Middle Chinese 彌勒 (mjie lok), from Sanskrit मैत्रेय (maitreya).


創造論

創造 (sōzō, “creation”) + 論 (-ron, “theory”)


天台

(Buddhism) a school of Mahayana Buddhism that stresses the Lotus Sutra


異邦人

ja-noun

異(い)邦(ほう)人(じん) • (ihōjin) ^(←いはうじん (ifauzin)?)

異邦人 (canonical)
ihōjin (romanization)
ifauzin (romanization)
いはうじん (hiragana historical)

From 異(い)邦(ほう) (ihō, “foreign country”) + 人(じん) (-jin, “person”).


禁断の木の実

ja-noun

禁(きん)断(だん)の木(こ)の実(み) • (kindan no konomi)

禁断の木の実 (canonical)
kindan no konomi (romanization)

From 禁断 (kindan, “forbidden”) + の (no, attributive particle) + 木の実 (konomi, “fruit”).

af

禁断の果実 禁断の果実#Japanese

(biblical) Synonym of 禁断の果実 (kindan no kajitsu, “forbidden fruit”)


神仏

[ɕĩmbɯ̟t͡sɨ]

Compound of Middle Chinese-derived elements 神(しん) (shin, “deity, god, kami”) + 仏(ぶつ) (butsu, “Buddha, Buddhism”).


念仏

From Middle Chinese-derived elements 念(ねん) (nen, “mental chanting”) + 仏(ぶつ) (butsu, “Buddha”).

念仏往生

passing away peacefully to be reborn in Paradise through invocation of Amitābha

(Buddhism) a prayer or chant to the Buddha

(Buddhism, especially) chanting the name of Amitābha Buddha, thought to rescue its devotee to the pure land


念仏

ja-verb-suru

念(ねん)仏(ぶつ)する • (nenbutsu suru) suru (stem 念(ねん)仏(ぶつ)し (nenbutsu shi), past 念(ねん)仏(ぶつ)した (nenbutsu shita))

念仏する (canonical)
nenbutsu suru (romanization)
念仏し (stem)
念仏した (past)
念仏し
ねんぶつし
nenbutsu shi
念仏する
ねんぶつする
nenbutsu suru
念仏すれ
ねんぶつすれ
nenbutsu sure
念仏せよ (imperative literary)
念仏しろ (colloquial imperative)
ねんぶつせよ (imperative literary)
ねんぶつしろ (colloquial imperative)
nenbutsu seyo (imperative literary)
nenbutsu shiro (colloquial imperative)
念仏される (passive)
ねんぶつされる (passive)
nenbutsu sareru (passive)
念仏させる (causative)
念仏さす (causative)
ねんぶつさせる (causative)
ねんぶつさす (causative)
nenbutsu saseru (causative)
nenbutsu sasu (causative)
念仏できる (potential)
ねんぶつできる (potential)
nenbutsu dekiru (potential)
念仏しよう (volitional)
ねんぶつしよう (volitional)
nenbutsu shiyō (volitional)
念仏しない (negative)
ねんぶつしない (negative)
nenbutsu shinai (negative)
念仏せず (continuative negative)
ねんぶつせず (continuative negative)
nenbutsu sezu (continuative negative)
念仏します (formal)
ねんぶつします (formal)
nenbutsu shimasu (formal)
念仏した (perfective)
ねんぶつした (perfective)
nenbutsu shita (perfective)
念仏して (conjunctive)
ねんぶつして (conjunctive)
nenbutsu shite (conjunctive)
念仏すれば (conditional hypothetical)
ねんぶつすれば (conditional hypothetical)
nenbutsu sureba (conditional hypothetical)

南無阿弥陀仏 南無阿弥陀仏#Japanese

(Buddhism, especially) to chant 南無阿弥陀仏 (namu Amida-butsu), an invocation to the Amitābha Buddha


石仏

From 石 (seki, “stone”) + 仏 (butsu, “Buddhist image”).


化身

Daijirin
Daijisen
Incarnation
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
Nirmāṇakāya
ja:NHK出版
ja:NHK放送文化研究所
ja:化身
ja:松村明

From Middle Chinese 化身 (MC xwaeH syin, “transformation + body”), itself a translation of Sanskrit निर्माणकाय (nirmāṇakāya, “body of transformations”).
Very rarely encountered with the reading kashin, using the kan'on reading of ka for the 化 character instead of the usual goon reading of ke. Most resources do not include the kashin reading.

der

(Buddhism) one of the three trikāya: a physical incarnation of someone, such as Gautama Buddha

(Buddhism, Shinto) a physical manifestation of a Buddha, bodhisattva, kami, or other divine or mystical being


権化

From 権 (gon, “right, power”) + 化 (ke, “change oneself into”).

(Buddhism) avatar (earthly manifestation of a deity)


彼岸

(Buddhism) pāramitā the sought after perfection, Clipping of 到彼岸 (tōhigan).


大天使

大天使 (canonical)
daitenshi (romanization)

大 (dai-, “arch-”) + 天使 (tenshi, “angel”)


羅漢

First attested before the seventh century.

(Buddhism, colloquial) Short for 阿羅漢 (arakan): an arhat, Buddhist saint


精霊

ja-noun

精(しょう)霊(りょう) • (shōryō) ^(←しやうりやう (syauryau)?)

精霊 (canonical)
shōryō (romanization)
syauryau (romanization)
しやうりやう (hiragana historical)

Bon Festival
Hōryūji
Prince Shōtoku
ja:精霊

From Middle Chinese 精靈 (MC tsjengH leng, literally “essence, spirit, soul + soul, spirit”). The goon, so likely the initial borrowing.

ltc-l

聖霊院: one of the pagoda at Hōryūji temple

聖霊会: a memorial service in honor of Prince Shōtoku

held on the 22nd day of the second lunar month

聖霊送り: a ceremony to send off one's ancestors' spirits at the end of the Bon Festival

around the 16th day of the seventh lunar month

wherein one sets loose model boat made of wood

聖霊棚: a shelf whereon one sets mortuary tablet for one's ancestor for the Bon Festival

精霊蜻蛉: general name given to various kinds of dragonfly that often appear around the time of the Shōryō Matsuri

精霊流し, 聖霊流し

the practice of setting loose model boat made of wood or straw on stream and river at the end of the Bon Festival

聖霊火: a ceremonial signal fire lit for the Bon Festival to help guide the spirit of one's ancestor

straw and set loose on stream and river at the end of the Bon Festival to send off the spirit of one's ancestor

聖霊祭り: alternative name for the Bon Festival

聖霊迎: a ceremony to welcome one's ancestors' spirits at the beginning of the Bon Festival

on the 13th day of the seventh lunar month

精霊飯, 聖霊飯

a ceremony performed as part of the Bon Festival, wherein children receive rice and sweets, make a temporary outdoor cooking stove, and cook and eat the rice and sweets

幽霊

a ghost, a phantom, a spectre, an apparition, the soul of someone who cannot move on

(Buddhism) the soul of someone who has died

(Buddhism) short for 精霊祭り (Shōryō matsuri), a festival honoring one's ancestors, held mainly on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month

精霊祭り

(Buddhism) short for 精霊蜻蛉 (Shōryō tonbo), general name given to various kinds of dragonfly that often appear around the time of the Shōryō Matsuri


入寂

ja-noun

入(にゅう)寂(じゃく) • (nyūjaku) ^(←にふじやく (nifuzyaku)?)

入寂 (canonical)
nyūjaku (romanization)
nifuzyaku (romanization)
にふじやく (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟ɨːʑa̠kɯ̟]


入寂

ja-verb-suru

入(にゅう)寂(じゃく)する • (nyūjaku suru) ^(←にふじやく (nifuzyaku)?)intransitive suru (stem 入(にゅう)寂(じゃく)し (nyūjaku shi), past 入(にゅう)寂(じゃく)した (nyūjaku shita))

入寂する (canonical)
nyūjaku suru (romanization)
nifuzyaku (romanization)
入寂し (stem)
入寂した (past)
入寂し
にゅうじゃくし
nyūjaku shi
入寂する
にゅうじゃくする
nyūjaku suru
入寂すれ
にゅうじゃくすれ
nyūjaku sure
入寂せよ (imperative literary)
入寂しろ (colloquial imperative)
にゅうじゃくせよ (imperative literary)
にゅうじゃくしろ (colloquial imperative)
nyūjaku seyo (imperative literary)
nyūjaku shiro (colloquial imperative)
入寂される (passive)
にゅうじゃくされる (passive)
nyūjaku sareru (passive)
入寂させる (causative)
入寂さす (causative)
にゅうじゃくさせる (causative)
にゅうじゃくさす (causative)
nyūjaku saseru (causative)
nyūjaku sasu (causative)
入寂できる (potential)
にゅうじゃくできる (potential)
nyūjaku dekiru (potential)
入寂しよう (volitional)
にゅうじゃくしよう (volitional)
nyūjaku shiyō (volitional)
入寂しない (negative)
にゅうじゃくしない (negative)
nyūjaku shinai (negative)
入寂せず (continuative negative)
にゅうじゃくせず (continuative negative)
nyūjaku sezu (continuative negative)
入寂します (formal)
にゅうじゃくします (formal)
nyūjaku shimasu (formal)
入寂した (perfective)
にゅうじゃくした (perfective)
nyūjaku shita (perfective)
入寂して (conjunctive)
にゅうじゃくして (conjunctive)
nyūjaku shite (conjunctive)
入寂すれば (conditional hypothetical)
にゅうじゃくすれば (conditional hypothetical)
nyūjaku sureba (conditional hypothetical)

[ɲ̟ɨːʑa̠kɯ̟]


入道

ja-noun

入(にゅう)道(どう) • (nyūdō) ^(←にふだう (nifudau)?)

入道 (canonical)
nyūdō (romanization)
nifudau (romanization)
にふだう (hiragana historical)

/nipʉ dau/ → /niɸudɔː/ → /niudɔː/ → /ɲuːdoː/
From Middle Chinese 入道 (MC nyip dawX, literally “enter the dharma”).

法性寺入道前関白太政大臣

Hosshōji Nyūdō Saki no Kanpaku Daijō-daijin

(Buddhism) entering the Buddhist priesthood; also the person who became a Buddhist novice


入道

ja-verb-suru

入(にゅう)道(どう)する • (nyūdō suru) ^(←にふだう (nifudau)?)suru (stem 入(にゅう)道(どう)し (nyūdō shi), past 入(にゅう)道(どう)した (nyūdō shita))

入道する (canonical)
nyūdō suru (romanization)
nifudau (romanization)
入道し (stem)
入道した (past)
入道し
にゅうどうし
nyūdō shi
入道する
にゅうどうする
nyūdō suru
入道すれ
にゅうどうすれ
nyūdō sure
入道せよ (imperative literary)
入道しろ (colloquial imperative)
にゅうどうせよ (imperative literary)
にゅうどうしろ (colloquial imperative)
nyūdō seyo (imperative literary)
nyūdō shiro (colloquial imperative)
入道される (passive)
にゅうどうされる (passive)
nyūdō sareru (passive)
入道させる (causative)
入道さす (causative)
にゅうどうさせる (causative)
にゅうどうさす (causative)
nyūdō saseru (causative)
nyūdō sasu (causative)
入道できる (potential)
にゅうどうできる (potential)
nyūdō dekiru (potential)
入道しよう (volitional)
にゅうどうしよう (volitional)
nyūdō shiyō (volitional)
入道しない (negative)
にゅうどうしない (negative)
nyūdō shinai (negative)
入道せず (continuative negative)
にゅうどうせず (continuative negative)
nyūdō sezu (continuative negative)
入道します (formal)
にゅうどうします (formal)
nyūdō shimasu (formal)
入道した (perfective)
にゅうどうした (perfective)
nyūdō shita (perfective)
入道して (conjunctive)
にゅうどうして (conjunctive)
nyūdō shite (conjunctive)
入道すれば (conditional hypothetical)
にゅうどうすれば (conditional hypothetical)
nyūdō sureba (conditional hypothetical)

(Buddhism) to enter the Buddhist priesthood


一世

一世 (canonical)
issei (romanization)
いっせ (alternative hiragana)
isse (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)
ひとよ (alternative hiragana)
hitoyo (Rōmaji alternative hiragana)

(Buddhism) one of the 三世 (sanze, literally “three lifetimes”), namely 過去 (“the past”), 現在 (“the present”) and 未来 (“the future”)


ダニエル

[da̠ɲ̟ie̞ɾɯ̟]


猊下

(Buddhism, rare, attributive) down a lion throne, looking up

(Buddhism, Christianity) Your Holiness; His Holiness; Your Grace; His Grace; Your Eminence; His Eminence


入滅

ja-noun

入(にゅう)滅(めつ) • (nyūmetsu) ^(←にふめつ (nifumetu)?)

入滅 (canonical)
nyūmetsu (romanization)
nifumetu (romanization)
にふめつ (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟ɨːme̞t͡sɨ]


入滅

ja-verb-suru

入(にゅう)滅(めつ)する • (nyūmetsu suru) ^(←にふめつ (nifumetu)?)suru (stem 入(にゅう)滅(めつ)し (nyūmetsu shi), past 入(にゅう)滅(めつ)した (nyūmetsu shita))

入滅する (canonical)
nyūmetsu suru (romanization)
nifumetu (romanization)
入滅し (stem)
入滅した (past)
入滅し
にゅうめつし
nyūmetsu shi
入滅する
にゅうめつする
nyūmetsu suru
入滅すれ
にゅうめつすれ
nyūmetsu sure
入滅せよ (imperative literary)
入滅しろ (colloquial imperative)
にゅうめつせよ (imperative literary)
にゅうめつしろ (colloquial imperative)
nyūmetsu seyo (imperative literary)
nyūmetsu shiro (colloquial imperative)
入滅される (passive)
にゅうめつされる (passive)
nyūmetsu sareru (passive)
入滅させる (causative)
入滅さす (causative)
にゅうめつさせる (causative)
にゅうめつさす (causative)
nyūmetsu saseru (causative)
nyūmetsu sasu (causative)
入滅できる (potential)
にゅうめつできる (potential)
nyūmetsu dekiru (potential)
入滅しよう (volitional)
にゅうめつしよう (volitional)
nyūmetsu shiyō (volitional)
入滅しない (negative)
にゅうめつしない (negative)
nyūmetsu shinai (negative)
入滅せず (continuative negative)
にゅうめつせず (continuative negative)
nyūmetsu sezu (continuative negative)
入滅します (formal)
にゅうめつします (formal)
nyūmetsu shimasu (formal)
入滅した (perfective)
にゅうめつした (perfective)
nyūmetsu shita (perfective)
入滅して (conjunctive)
にゅうめつして (conjunctive)
nyūmetsu shite (conjunctive)
入滅すれば (conditional hypothetical)
にゅうめつすれば (conditional hypothetical)
nyūmetsu sureba (conditional hypothetical)

[ɲ̟ɨːme̞t͡sɨ]


選民

ja-noun

選(せん)民(みん) • (senmin) ^(←せんみん (senmin)?)

選民 (canonical)
senmin (romanization)
せんみん (hiragana historical)

選民思想

選民思想 せんみんしそう


忍辱

From Middle Chinese 忍辱 (MC nyinX nyowk), in turn a translation of Sanskrit क्षान्ति (kṣānti, “patience, forbearance, forgiveness”).
First cited to the early 800s.

der

[ɲ̟ĩɲ̟ːikɯ̟]

(Buddhism) kshanti: patience, forbearance and forgiveness: one of the paramitas in Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhism


来世

来世はこの世の時間の延長ではない。

1949, 永井隆, この子を残して

The next world is not an extension of our time in this one.

Raise wa kono yo no jikan no enchō de wa nai.

(Buddhism) the hereafter, the next world after death


黄泉

*⟨yo₂mo₂⟩ → */jəmə/ → ⟨yo₂mo⟩ → */jəmo/ → /jomo/
From Old Japanese, first attested in the Kojiki, the oldest extant historical record of ancient Japan, compiled in 712 CE. Appears to be the older combining form of yomi (see below).
The ablaut or apophonic form of cognate 山 (yama, “mountain”). Mountains were often used as a place to bury the dead and were strongly associated with the afterlife.
Orthographic borrowing from Chinese 黃泉 /黄泉 (huángquán, literally “yellow springs”), incorporating the underworld from Chinese mythology.

obor

(Shinto, archaic) the land of the dead; the afterworld, underworld

黄泉つ醜女

demoness inhabitant of the land of the dead

黄泉つ平坂

hill of the dead, lying between this world and the afterlife

黄泉つ竈食い

eat from the kitchen of the dead → dying, death


黄泉

*⟨yo₂mi₂⟩ → */jəmwi/ → /jomi/
From Old Japanese, first attested in the Kojiki (712 CE) alongside its combining form yomo (see above).
The ablaut or apophonic form of yomo. For this vowel alternation, see WT:AJPX#Standalone forms and combining forms.
Orthographic borrowing from Chinese 黃泉 /黄泉 (huángquán, literally “yellow springs”), incorporating the underworld from Chinese mythology.

(Shinto) the land of the dead; the afterworld, underworld

甦る

to return from the land of the dead → to be reborn

黄泉の旅人

traveler to the land of the dead → someone who has died


座禅

座禅 (canonical)
zazen (romanization)
ざぜん (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese compound 坐禪 (MC dzwaX dzyen).
座 is a daiyōji replacing 坐.

(Buddhism) a form of sitting meditation in Zen Buddhism


如是

Daijisen
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Sangyō Gisho
Shōbōgenzō
ja:三経義疏
ja:勝鬘経義疏
ja:松村明
ja:正法眼蔵

From Old Japanese, in turn from Middle Chinese 如是 (MC nyo dzyeX). Used to translate Sanskrit एवम् (evam, “such, thus”).
First cited to the Buddhist text 勝鬘経義疏 (Shōmangyō Gisho), part of the 三経義疏 (Sangyō Gisho) dated to 611. The text is written in 漢文 (kanbun), a kind of specialized Classical Chinese adapted slightly for Japanese readers. The first citation in a definitively Japanese-language text might not be until the 正法眼蔵 (Shōbōgenzō) compiled during the years 1231–53.

(Buddhism) short for 十如是 (jū-nyoze): the ten thusnesses of the Tendai sect

十如是

(Buddhism) expression of approval of something said by another person


三蔵

(Buddhism) a high-ranking priest or monk who has mastered all of the Tripiṭaka canons


半夏

See also: 夏安居 (keango)

(Buddhism) the 45th day of the 90 day summer retreat


神籬

神籬 (canonical)
hiboroki (romanization)
胙 (alternative)
膰 (alternative)

/hi₁boro₂ki₁/: [piborəki] → [piboroki] → [ɸiboroki] → [çiboroki]. From earlier himoroki. Medial bilabial -m- loses nasality and becomes a plosive -b-.

神籬 日本紀私記云、神籬、俗云比保路岐

938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō:

Divine grove The Nihongi Private Records call it a divine grove, commonly called hiboroki

(Shinto), a holy area surrounded by a barrier of trees; used as a place to summon and worship gods


ソウル

(religion, folklore) Synonym of 魂 (tamashī, “soul”)


上座

(religion) an experienced priest who leads a religious organization

(Buddhism) chief priest, senior priest; one of the sankō, the three priests who administer certain Buddhist temples


馬頭

馬頭 (canonical)
Mezu (romanization)
Medu (romanization)
めづ (hiragana historical)

Calque of Sanskrit अश्वशीर्ष (aśvaśīrṣa).

cal

(Buddhism, Chinese mythology, Japanese mythology) Horse-Head, one of the two guardians of hell


夜叉

夜叉 (canonical)
yasha (romanization)
yasya (romanization)
やしや (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese 夜叉 (yæᴴ cha?), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit यक्ष (yakṣa).

夜叉竹

Semiarundinaria yashadake, a type of bamboo

夜叉柄杓

夜叉柄杓 ヤシャビシャク

Ribes ambiguum, a type of flowering plant related to currant and gooseberry

夜叉が馬を見たよう: → an expression of extreme happiness

(Buddhism) in Buddhism, yakshas are held to be followers of 毘沙門天 (Bishamonten, “Vaiśravaṇa, the chief of the Four Heavenly Kings”), and guardians of the north


煉獄

[ɾẽ̞ŋɡo̞kɯ̟]

煉 (ren, “to refine”) + 獄 (goku, “prison”)

compound

まるで煉獄。

2003, Enrico Maxwell- page 76 in Chapter 42 ("Aubird Force") of Hellsing volume 6


魔羅

Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Kōjien
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Nihon Ryōiki
Shinmura Izuru
Tōkai–Tōsan dialect

From Middle Chinese 魔羅 (ma la), in turn a transcription of Sanskrit मार (Māra, “the Destroyer, the Evil One”). The kanji are phonetic ateji (当て字) applied when transcribing the Sanskrit into Middle Chinese.
The shift from "Buddhist evil demon" to "penis" was originally slang use among monks, in reference to sexual desires distracting one from the path to enlightenment.
Some sources link this term to 放る (maru, “to excrete”). However, the verb maru refers to "excreting" bodily wastes in general, not just urination but also defecation, and some sources also list flatulation as an included sense. In addition, other nouns attested from Old Japanese that derive from verbs and end in -a appear to be the result of the action of the verb, which does not fit this case. Ultimately, the proposed connection between Sanskrit-derived mara ("penis") and Japonic-derived maru ("to excrete") appears to be a folk etymology, likely arising from the superficial similarity in forms.
First attested in the Nihon Ryōiki, in a section dated to the early 800s.

der

(Buddhism) Mara: a Buddhist demon that personifies the "death" of spiritual life


アイオーン

ja-noun

アイオーン • (aiōn)


僧都

僧都 (canonical)
sōzu (romanization)
soudu (romanization)
そうづ (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) the second highest rank of Buddhist prelate after the 僧正 (sōjō)


破魔

Buddhist term, imported into Japanese when Buddhism was introduced to Japan, some time during the Kofun, Asuka, and Nara periods.
Appears to be from Middle Chinese compound 破魔 (MC phaH ma, literally “break + demon”).
Alternately, could be a Japanese coinage using Middle Chinese elements, as a compound of Middle Chinese-derived 破 (ha, “break, destroy”) + 魔 (ma, “demon, devil”).

compound

(Buddhism) defeating a devil or demon, particularly the demons of worldly desires or passions

破魔術: exorcism

Buddhism; the technique of exorcising, rather than the act of doing so


破魔

ja-verb-suru

破(は)魔(ま)する • (hama suru) suru (stem 破(は)魔(ま)し (hama shi), past 破(は)魔(ま)した (hama shita))

破魔する (canonical)
hama suru (romanization)
破魔し (stem)
破魔した (past)
破魔し
はまし
hama shi
破魔する
はまする
hama suru
破魔すれ
はますれ
hama sure
破魔せよ (imperative literary)
破魔しろ (colloquial imperative)
はませよ (imperative literary)
はましろ (colloquial imperative)
hama seyo (imperative literary)
hama shiro (colloquial imperative)
破魔される (passive)
はまされる (passive)
hama sareru (passive)
破魔させる (causative)
破魔さす (causative)
はまさせる (causative)
はまさす (causative)
hama saseru (causative)
hama sasu (causative)
破魔できる (potential)
はまできる (potential)
hama dekiru (potential)
破魔しよう (volitional)
はましよう (volitional)
hama shiyō (volitional)
破魔しない (negative)
はましない (negative)
hama shinai (negative)
破魔せず (continuative negative)
はませず (continuative negative)
hama sezu (continuative negative)
破魔します (formal)
はまします (formal)
hama shimasu (formal)
破魔した (perfective)
はました (perfective)
hama shita (perfective)
破魔して (conjunctive)
はまして (conjunctive)
hama shite (conjunctive)
破魔すれば (conditional hypothetical)
はますれば (conditional hypothetical)
hama sureba (conditional hypothetical)

(Buddhism) to defeat a devil or demon, particularly the demons of worldly desires or passions


三昧

From Middle Chinese 三昧, from Sanskrit समाधि (samādhi).


獅子座

獅子 (“lion”) + 座 (“seat; constellation”). In the "lion seat" sense, from the apparent resemblance to a lion's fiery mane of the backrest.

(Buddhism) a Lion Throne (throne of a buddha, a bodhisattva or a high priest)


四天王

ja-noun

四(し)天(てん)王(のう) • (shitennō) ^(←してんわう (siten'wau)?)

四天王 (canonical)
shitennō (romanization)
siten'wau (romanization)
してんわう (hiragana historical)

[ɕitẽ̞nːo̞ː]

Ultimately a calque of Sanskrit चतुर्महाराज (caturmahārāja, literally “four great kings”).
Equivalent to 四 (shi, “four”) + 天王 (tennō, “heavenly king”).

com

(Buddhism) the four gods believed to be watching over the four cardinal directions:


極楽

[ɡo̞kɯ̟ɾa̠kɯ̟]

From Middle Chinese 極樂 (MC gik lak), itself a translation of Sanskrit सुखावती (sukhāvatī), the feminine form of सुखवत् (sukhavat, literally “full of joy”).

(Buddhism) Short for 極楽浄土 (Gokuraku Jōdo): pure land (western paradise of Amitabha Buddha)


禅那

From Chinese 禪那 /禅那 (chánnuó), which is a borrowing from Sanskrit ध्यान (dhyāna, “a type of meditation”).

der

(Buddhism) A type of profound meditation practiced by followers of Zen Buddhism.


世尊

From Middle Chinese 世尊 (MC syejH tswon), itself a translation of Sanskrit भगवत् (bhagavat, “deity”), or Pali bhagavā.

...爾時。持地菩薩。即従座起。前白仏言。世尊。若有衆生。聞是観世音菩薩品。自在之業。普門示現。神通力者当知是人。功徳不少...

Then the Bodhisattva Earth Holder rose from his seat, went before the Buddha, and said to him: "World-Honored One, if any living being hears this Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World chapter, hears of the freedom of his actions and the divine power of the revelation of the universal gateway, it should be known that this person's blessings are not few."

...ni ji, Jiji Bosatsu, soku ju za ki, zen byaku Butsu gon. Seson, nyaku u shujō, mon ze Kanzeon Bosatsu hon, jizai shi gō, fumon jigen, jinzū rikisha tō chi ze nin, kudoku fu-shō...

(Buddhism) the World-Honored One, an honorific name for the Gautama Buddha


聖霊

(Christianity, Judaism, Islam) the Holy Spirit; the Holy Ghost


けっかい

(Buddhism) restricted access to a specific area for purposes of Buddhist training


金剛

金剛 (canonical)
kongō (romanization)
kongau (romanization)
こんがう (hiragana historical)

/komʉ kau/ → /koŋɡau/ → /koŋɡɔː/ → /koŋɡoː/
From Middle Chinese 金剛 (MC kim kang), itself a translation of Sanskrit वज्र (vajra, “diamond, adamant; thunderbolt”).
Compare modern Cantonese 金剛 /金刚 (gam¹ gong¹).

縛日羅

basara, transliteration of Sanskrit vajra

(Buddhism) Short for 金剛界 (kongōkai): the Diamond Realm in Vajrayana Buddhism

金剛界

(Buddhism) Short for 金剛杵 (kongōsho): a vajra (Buddhist double-headed ceremonial mace)

金剛杵

(Buddhism) Short for 金剛力士 (kongō rikishi): a pair of vajra-wielding deities guarding most Buddhist temples

金剛力士

(Buddhism) Short for 金剛童子 (kongō dōshi):


自覚

समाधि समाधि#Sanskrit

(Buddhism) "higher mind": one of the three divisions of the Noble Eightfold Path, equivalent to समाधि (samādhi)


修行

ja-noun

修(しゅ)行(ぎょう) or 修行(すぎょう) • (shugyō or sugyō)

修行 (canonical)
修行 (canonical)
shugyō (romanization)
sugyō (romanization)


修行

ja-verb-suru

修(しゅ)行(ぎょう)する or 修行(すぎょう)する • (shugyō suru or sugyō suru) suru (stem 修(しゅ)行(ぎょう)し (shugyō shi), past 修(しゅ)行(ぎょう)した (shugyō shita))

修行する (canonical)
修行する (canonical)
shugyō suru (romanization)
sugyō suru (romanization)
修行し (stem)
修行した (past)
修行し
しゅぎょうし
shugyō shi
修行する
しゅぎょうする
shugyō suru
修行すれ
しゅぎょうすれ
shugyō sure
修行せよ (imperative literary)
修行しろ (colloquial imperative)
しゅぎょうせよ (imperative literary)
しゅぎょうしろ (colloquial imperative)
shugyō seyo (imperative literary)
shugyō shiro (colloquial imperative)
修行される (passive)
しゅぎょうされる (passive)
shugyō sareru (passive)
修行させる (causative)
修行さす (causative)
しゅぎょうさせる (causative)
しゅぎょうさす (causative)
shugyō saseru (causative)
shugyō sasu (causative)
修行できる (potential)
しゅぎょうできる (potential)
shugyō dekiru (potential)
修行しよう (volitional)
しゅぎょうしよう (volitional)
shugyō shiyō (volitional)
修行しない (negative)
しゅぎょうしない (negative)
shugyō shinai (negative)
修行せず (continuative negative)
しゅぎょうせず (continuative negative)
shugyō sezu (continuative negative)
修行します (formal)
しゅぎょうします (formal)
shugyō shimasu (formal)
修行した (perfective)
しゅぎょうした (perfective)
shugyō shita (perfective)
修行して (conjunctive)
しゅぎょうして (conjunctive)
shugyō shite (conjunctive)
修行すれば (conditional hypothetical)
しゅぎょうすれば (conditional hypothetical)
shugyō sureba (conditional hypothetical)


黄道吉日

黄道吉日 (canonical)
kōdōkichinichi (romanization)

From 黄道 (“ecliptic”) + 吉日 (“auspicious day”), from the belief that the movement of the sun along the ecliptic determined the outcome of human endeavours.

(religion) in Onmyodo, an auspicious day to carry out an activity


会者定離

会者定離 (canonical)
eshajōri (romanization)

From 遺教經 (The Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teachings, a Chinese translation; the original version in Sanskrit has been lost.):
Literal translation (kanbun kundoku) in Japanese:
世(よ)皆(みな)常(つね)無(な)し、会(あ)えば必(かなら)ず離(はな)る有(あ)り。
Yo mina tsune nashi, aeba kanarazu hanaru ari.
Everything about the world is impermanent. A meeting is always accompanied with a parting.

ja-usex

世 皆 常 無し、会えば 必ず 離る 有り。

よ みな つね なし、あえば かならず はなる あり。

世皆無常，會必有離。

世皆无常，会必有离。

(Buddhism) those who meet must part (Every human relationship will end someday due to the transient nature of life.)


高天原

高天原 (canonical)
takama no hara (romanization)

From Old Japanese, first attested in the Kojiki (712 CE).
Compound of 高 (taka, “high”) + 天の原 (ama no hara, “plains of heaven”), with the final -a of taka dropped due to haplology.

com

(Japanese mythology, Shinto) Takamagahara (the realm of the gods, as opposed to the realm of mortals and the realm of the dead)


天王

ja-noun

天(てん)王(のう) • (tennō) ^(←てんわう (ten'wau)?)

天王 (canonical)
tennō (romanization)
ten'wau (romanization)
てんわう (hiragana historical)

The ō reading for 王 changes to nō as an instance of renjō (連声).


結界

Originally a Buddhist term borrowed from Middle Chinese 結界 (MC ket keajH), itself a translation of Sanskrit सीमाबन्ध (sīmābandha, literally “boundary, edge + bounded”).

女人結界

女人結界 にょにんけっかい

結界限界

結界限界 けっかいげんかい

結界忍術

結界忍術 けっかいにんじゅつ

restricted access to a specific area for purposes of Buddhist training

in esoteric Buddhism, restricted access to a specific area of a dōjō for purposes of purification

a wooden fence or partition separating the inner and outer sanctuaries of a temple, or separating monastic and public seating in the outer sanctuary

an area into which anything potentially disruptive to Buddhist training is restricted from entering, such as a 女人結界 (nyonin kekkai, “no-women zone”)


結界

ja-verb-suru

結(けっ)界(かい)する • (kekkai suru) suru (stem 結(けっ)界(かい)し (kekkai shi), past 結(けっ)界(かい)した (kekkai shita))

結界する (canonical)
kekkai suru (romanization)
結界し (stem)
結界した (past)
結界し
けっかいし
kekkai shi
結界する
けっかいする
kekkai suru
結界すれ
けっかいすれ
kekkai sure
結界せよ (imperative literary)
結界しろ (colloquial imperative)
けっかいせよ (imperative literary)
けっかいしろ (colloquial imperative)
kekkai seyo (imperative literary)
kekkai shiro (colloquial imperative)
結界される (passive)
けっかいされる (passive)
kekkai sareru (passive)
結界させる (causative)
結界さす (causative)
けっかいさせる (causative)
けっかいさす (causative)
kekkai saseru (causative)
kekkai sasu (causative)
結界できる (potential)
けっかいできる (potential)
kekkai dekiru (potential)
結界しよう (volitional)
けっかいしよう (volitional)
kekkai shiyō (volitional)
結界しない (negative)
けっかいしない (negative)
kekkai shinai (negative)
結界せず (continuative negative)
けっかいせず (continuative negative)
kekkai sezu (continuative negative)
結界します (formal)
けっかいします (formal)
kekkai shimasu (formal)
結界した (perfective)
けっかいした (perfective)
kekkai shita (perfective)
結界して (conjunctive)
けっかいして (conjunctive)
kekkai shite (conjunctive)
結界すれば (conditional hypothetical)
けっかいすれば (conditional hypothetical)
kekkai sureba (conditional hypothetical)

to restrict access to a specific area for purposes of Buddhist training

in esoteric Buddhism, to restrict access to a specific area of a dōjō for purposes of purification

to restrict anything potentially disruptive to Buddhist training from entering into an area


天道

天道 (canonical)
tendō (romanization)
tendau (romanization)
てんだう (hiragana historical)

From Old Japanese, in turn from Middle Chinese 天道 (MC then dawX). The 呉音 (goon), so the earlier borrowing.
First cited to a text from 751 CE.

(Buddhism) the heavenly realm, the gods realm (see also Saṃsāra (Buddhism)#Realms of rebirth)


祖師

祖師 (canonical)
soshi (romanization)
sosi (romanization)
そし (hiragana historical)

浄土教の祖師


勢至菩薩

勢至菩薩 (canonical)
Seishi Bosatsu (romanization)

(Buddhism) Mahasthamaprapta, the bodhisattva of wisdom and strength


奈落

Daijirin
Daijisen
Naraka (Buddhism)
ja:奈落
ja:松村明

From Sanskrit नरक (naraka). The spelling may be an orthographic borrowing from Middle Chinese 奈落 (MC naH lak) above.
First cited to a text from 985 CE.


呪法

呪法 (canonical)
juhō (romanization)
zyufofu (romanization)
じゅほふ (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) ritual where incantations are chanted


鬼法

(Buddhism) the practices of demons or evil spirits


天狐

(mythology, Shinto): A heavenly/celestial fox; a nine-tail fox said to be the most powerful form of the kitsune: Once they turn 1,000-years-old, they gain all nine of their tails, turn a golden color, and ascend to the heavens, where they become celestial foxes.


億劫

ja-noun

億劫(おっくう) or 億(おっ)劫(こう) or 億劫(おくこう) • (okkū or okkō or okukō)

億劫 (canonical)
億劫 (canonical)
億劫 (canonical)
okkū (romanization)
okkō (romanization)
okukō (romanization)

Originally from Buddhism, literally "a trillion kalpa" or a very long time. The おっくう reading shifts from おっこう


習合

習(しゅう)合(ごう) • (shūgō)


聖法

聖(しょう)法(ほう) • (shōhō)


正典

聖書正典

聖書正典 せいしょせいてん


荒魂

Compound of 荒 (ara, “rough, wild, violent”) + 御 (mi, honorific prefix) + 霊, 魂 (tama, “soul”).

compound

(Shinto, rare) one of the four souls of one's spirit, or one of the four aspects of a kami, manifesting characteristics of wildness and violence, possibly also decisiveness and courage


幸魂

幸魂 (canonical)
sakimitama (romanization)

(Shinto, philosophy) one of the 四(し)魂(こん) (shikon) within one's heart and pertains to one's own "loving nature"


正行

ja-noun

正(しょう)行(ぎょう) • (shōgyō)

(Buddhism) correct practices for living life


正法

正(しょう)法(ほう) • (shōhō) ^(←しやうはう (syaufau)?)

正法 (canonical)
shōhō (romanization)
syaufau (romanization)
しやうはう (hiragana historical)


五大

(Buddhism) the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, space.


雷神

(mythology, Shinto): the Japanese god of thunder and lightning


土神

(mythology, Shinto) a god of the land or soil


火神

火神 (canonical)
kajin (romanization)
kwazin (romanization)
くわじん (hiragana historical)

Probably ultimately from Middle Chinese 火神 (MC xwaX zyin, literally “fire + god”).
First attested in 1103 in the 中右記 (Chūyū-ki), a diary spanning some 50 years of life in the imperial court.

ltc-l

(mythology, Shinto, possibly archaic) a god of fire, another name for Kagutsuchi


風神

Probably from Middle Chinese 風神 (MC pjuwng zyin). Compare modern Mandarin 風神／风神 (fēngshén).

(Japanese mythology, Shinto): the Japanese god of the wind


立花

立花 (canonical)
rikka (romanization)
ritukwa (romanization)
りつくわ (hiragana historical)

/rikkwa/ → /rikka/
Possibly from Middle Chinese compound 立花 (MC lip xwae, “lit. stand + flower”) or 立華 (MC lip xwae, “lit. stand + flower”).
Alternatively, coined in Japan of Middle Chinese-derived components.

(Buddhism) a style of floral arrangement as an offering, typically using branches of pine or plum placed upright in a copper vase


祖神

From Middle Chinese compound 祖神 (MC tsuX zyin). Compare modern Mandarin 祖神 (zǔshén).

(mythology, Shinto) the deification of an ancestor

(mythology, Shinto) Amaterasu, as an ancestor of the imperial family


善男

[d͡zẽ̞nːã̠ɴ]


無明

(religion, Buddhism): avidyā: unenlightenment, ignorance of nirvana and of the fundamental state of existence


破魔師

Compound of 破魔 (hama, “exorcism”) + 師 (shi, “master, practitioner”).


破魔術

破魔術 (canonical)
hamajutsu (romanization)

Compound of 破魔 (hama, “exorcism”) + 術 (jutsu, “technique”).

(Buddhism) exorcism (the technique of exorcising, rather than the act of doing so)


御幣

(Shinto) implement used in Shintō rituals, consisting of two 紙垂(かみしで) (kamishide, “zigzag paper streamers used extensively in Shintō”) attached to a wooden or bamboo pole.


幣束

(Shinto) wooden wands, decorated with two shides (zigzag paper streamers) used in Shinto rituals


大幣

(Shinto) a wooden wand with paper streamers attached, used in Shinto rituals for purification


祓串

祓串 (canonical)
haraegushi (romanization)

(Shinto) wooden wand decorated with shide (zigzag paper streamers), used for purification in Shinto rituals


悟り

悟り (canonical)
satori (romanization)
さとり (hiragana historical)

The 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 悟(さと)る (satoru).


十万億土

十万億土 (canonical)
jūman'okudo (romanization)


有角神

有角神 (canonical)
yūkakushin (romanization)

Compound of 有角 (yūkaku, “horned”) + 神 (shin, “god”).


天照

天照 (canonical)
天照 (canonical)
Amaterasu (romanization)

Daijirin
Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Man'yōshū
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten

From Old Japanese. Mentioned in the Man'yōshū of 759 CE.
Superficially, a compound of 天 (ama, “sky, the heavens”) + 照らす (terasu, “to illuminate something, to shine upon something”). However, this derives instead as an honorific form of compound verb 天照る (amateru, “to shine in heaven”), as the 照らす (terasu) is not the usual transitive or causative conjugation of the intransitive verb 照る (teru, “to shine, to light up”), but rather an example of the verb with the Old Japanese honorific verb suffix す (-su).
As a verbal epithet, also found in some older texts with the reading Amaderasu, where the terasu changes to derasu as an instance of rendaku (連濁). The name appears to be consistently used without voicing, as Amaterasu.

com

(Japanese mythology, Shinto) Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess


修羅場

ja-noun

修(しゅ)羅(ら)場(じょう) • (shurajō) ^(←しゆらぢやう (syuradyau)?)

修羅場 (canonical)
shurajō (romanization)
syuradyau (romanization)
しゆらぢやう (hiragana historical)

Compound of 修羅(しゅら) (shura, alternative name of 阿(あ)修(しゅ)羅(ら) (ashura), "Asura") + 場(じょう) (jō, “place”).

ja-compound

(Buddhism) location of the fight between the (king of) Asuras and 帝釈天 (Teishakuten, “Śakra”)


ファサード

ja-noun

ファサード • (fasādo)

(Islam) rottenness, corruption, depravity


共働

共(きょう)働(どう) • (kyōdō)


浄土

浄土 (canonical)
jōdo (romanization)
zyaudo (romanization)
じやうど (hiragana historical)

English: Jodo, jodo

(Buddhism) the pure land, the celestial realm of a buddha or bodhisattva

穢土

the impure world, this world, the mortal realm


黄道

黄(こう)道(どう) • (kōdō) ^(←くわうだう (kwaudau)?)

黄道 (canonical)
kōdō (romanization)
kwaudau (romanization)
おうどう (alternative hiragana)
ōdō (Rōmaji)
わうだう (hiragana historical)
くわうだう (hiragana historical)

(religion) Short for 黄道吉日 (“auspicious day”).


六道

六道 (canonical)
rikudō (romanization)
六道 (canonical)
rokudō (romanization)

じごくどう じごくどう#Japanese

(Buddhism) The six planes, realms, or domains of existence into which souls are reborn in the cycle of samsara:

餓鬼道 (がきどう, gakidō): life in starvation (one of the Buddhist hells)

ちくしょうどう ちくしょうどう#Japanese

畜生道 (ちくしょうどう, chikushōdō): life as a beast

にんげんどう にんげんどう#Japanese

人間道 (にんげんどう, ningendō) / 人道 (にんどう, nindō): life as a human

あしゅらどう あしゅらどう#Japanese

阿修羅道 (あしゅらどう, ashuradō): life as a demigod

てんじょう てんじょう#Japanese


摩耶

From Middle Chinese 摩耶 (MC ma yae), from Sanskrit माया (māyā́).

摩耶夫人

(Buddhism) Maya (mother of Gautama Buddha)


無形

無形 (canonical)
mugyō (romanization)
mugyau (romanization)
むぎやう (hiragana historical)

From Middle Chinese compound 無形 /无形 (mju heng, literally “without shape”). The goon, so likely the initial borrowing.

(Buddhism): formlessness, bodylessness; something that is shapeless and invisible


無見

(Buddhism): The conviction or strong belief that everything in this world is completely null and void, with no substance.


魔道

(Buddhism): One of the heavens, home of the devas; alternately, the underworld, the land of yomi


阿頼耶識

阿頼耶識 (canonical)
arayashiki (romanization)

Ultimately from Sanskrit आलयविज्ञान (ālaya-vijñāna, literally “dwelling-consciousness”), via Middle Chinese 阿賴耶識 (MC 'a lajH yae syik).

der

(Buddhism) storehouse consciousness, forming the base of all human existence


天冠

ja-noun

天(てん)冠(かん) • (tenkan) ^(←てんくわん (tenkwan)?)

天冠 (canonical)
tenkan (romanization)
tenkwan (romanization)
てんくわん (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) a kind of crown worn by Buddhas and Buddhist deities


涅槃

From Middle Chinese 涅槃 (MC net ban), itself a transliteration of Sanskrit निर्वाण (nirvāṇa, “blown or put out, extinguished”) or Pali nibbāna.

der

無罣礙故。無有恐怖。遠離一切顛倒夢想。究竟涅槃。

7th century, Prajñāpāramitā Heart Sutra (translation by Xuanzang)

Because there are no obstacles, there is no fear. Separating from everything, from all upside-down views and from attaining Nirvana, too.

Mu kege ko, mu ku u fu. Onri issai tendō musō, kukyō nehan...

(Buddhism) nirvana (enlightened experience)

(Buddhism) Short for 仏涅槃 (butsunehan): the death of the Sakyamuni Buddha

仏涅槃

(Buddhism) Short for 涅槃会 (Nehan-e): an annual Buddhist service held on Parinirvana Day


童子

(Buddhism, mythology) a boy retainer who follows his buddha, bodhisattva or wisdom king around

(Buddhism) a boy between 8 and 20 years of age who studies scriptures and runs errands in a temple without actually being a practicing monk


竜神

(Shinto) a dragon god also known as 海神(わたつみ) (Watatsumi), the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology


悪霊

ja-noun

悪(あく)霊(りょう) • (akuryō) ^(←あくりやう (akuryau)?)

悪霊 (canonical)
akuryō (romanization)
akuryau (romanization)
あくりやう (hiragana historical)

[a̠kɯ̟ɾʲo̞ː]

悪霊退散！

(especially Buddhism, more common) evil spirit


福禄寿

福禄寿 (canonical)
Fukurokuju (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟kɯ̟ɾo̞kɯ̟ʑɨ]

From Middle Chinese 福祿壽 /福禄寿 (Fú-Lù-Shòu). Considered in Japan to be one of the Seven Lucky Gods starting from the Muromachi Period.

(Shinto): Fukurokuju; a god of happiness, wealth, and longevity, and one of the seven gods of good fortune

布袋

the fat and happy god of abundance and good health

弁才天, 弁財天

goddess of knowledge, art and beauty, especially music


御札

From 御 (o-, “honorific prefix”) + 札 (fuda, “tag, note”).

護符

a protective charm issue by a Shinto shrine

破魔矢

a decorative arrow used as a ward against evil

(Shinto) talisman or amulet issued by a Shinto shrine


喇嘛

喇嘛 (canonical)
喇嘛 (canonical)
rama (romanization)


踏む

ja-verb

踏(ふ)む • (fumu) transitive godan (stem 踏(ふ)み (fumi), past 踏(ふ)んだ (funda))

踏む (canonical)
fumu (romanization)
踏み (stem)
踏んだ (past)
踏ま
ふま
fuma
踏み
ふみ
fumi
踏む
ふむ
fumu
踏め
ふめ
fume
踏まれる (passive)
ふまれる (passive)
fumareru (passive)
踏ませる (causative)
踏ます (causative)
ふませる (causative)
ふます (causative)
fumaseru (causative)
fumasu (causative)
踏める (potential)
ふめる (potential)
fumeru (potential)
踏もう (volitional)
ふもう (volitional)
fumō (volitional)
踏まない (negative)
ふまない (negative)
fumanai (negative)
踏まず (continuative negative)
ふまず (continuative negative)
fumazu (continuative negative)
踏みます (formal)
ふみます (formal)
fumimasu (formal)
踏んだ (perfective)
ふんだ (perfective)
funda (perfective)
踏んで (conjunctive)
ふんで (conjunctive)
funde (conjunctive)
踏めば (conditional hypothetical)
ふめば (conditional hypothetical)
fumeba (conditional hypothetical)
踏ま (irrealis stem)
ふま (irrealis stem)
fuma (irrealis)
踏み (continuative stem)
ふみ (continuative stem)
fumi (continuative)
踏む (stem terminative)
ふむ (stem terminative)
fumu (terminative)
踏む (attributive stem)
ふむ (attributive stem)
fumu (attributive)
踏め (realis stem)
ふめ (realis stem)
fume (realis)
踏め (imperative stem)
ふめ (imperative stem)
fume (imperative)
踏まず (negative)
ふまず (negative)
fumazu (negative)
踏めど (contrastive)
ふめど (contrastive)
fumedo (contrastive)
踏めば (causative)
ふめば (causative)
fumeba (causative)
踏まば (conditional)
ふまば (conditional)
fumaba (conditional)
踏みき (past)
ふみき (past)
fumiki (past)
踏みけり (past)
ふみけり (past)
fumikeri (past)
踏みつ (perfect)
ふみつ (perfect)
fumitu (perfect)
踏みぬ (perfect)
ふみぬ (perfect)
fuminu (perfect)
踏めり (continuative perfect)
踏みたり (continuative perfect)
ふめり (continuative perfect)
ふみたり (continuative perfect)
fumeri (continuative perfect)
fumitari (continuative perfect)
踏まむ (volitional)
ふまむ (volitional)
fumamu (volitional)

ふみえ

stepping on a picture of Christ to punish suspected Christians during the Shogunate

ふみふみ

kneading; when a cat slowly presses its front paws on something to relax

願かけに御百度を踏む

to worship a hundred times to pray for something


醍醐

From Middle Chinese 醍醐 (MC dej hu), itself a translation of Sanskrit मण्ड (maṇḍa, literally “cream of milk”).

der

(Buddhism) the fifth and last flavor according to the Nirvana Sutra, possibly of ghee or some other kind of butter; believed to be the ultimate truth or the greatest nirvana


道行

ja-noun

道(どう)行(ぎょう) • (dōgyō) ^(←だうぎやう (daugyau)?)

道行 (canonical)
dōgyō (romanization)
daugyau (romanization)
だうぎやう (hiragana historical)

(Buddhism) practice of Buddhism, especially by monks


刹那

/setina/ → /setuna/
Shift in pronunciation from sechina above, using the kan'yōon of setsu for the first kanji.
This reading is now the most common.

刹那主義

the principle or philosophy of living in the moment

(Buddhism) the smallest unit of time, of varying lengths depending on tradition:

roughly 0.11 seconds, defined as 1/65ᵗʰ of a 弾指 (danshi), where a danshi is 1/12,000ᵗʰ of a day or 7.2 seconds

0.002 seconds, defined as 1/60ᵗʰ of a 念 (nen), where a nen is 1/60ᵗʰ of a 弾指 (danshi)

1/75ᵗʰ of a second, defined as 1/6,480,000ᵗʰ of a day


業火

業火 (canonical)
gōka (romanization)
gafukwa (romanization)
がふくわ (hiragana historical)

/ɡapukwa/ → /ɡafukwa/ → /ɡawukwa/ → /ɡaukwa/ → /ɡɔːkwa/ → /ɡoːkwa/ → /ɡoːka/
From Middle Chinese compound 業火 (MC ngjaep xwaX, literally “karmic fire”). Compare modern Mandarin 業火 /业火 (yèhuǒ).
Buddhist term, imported into Japanese when Buddhism was introduced to Japan, some time during the Kofun, Asuka, and Nara periods.


誓い

誓い (canonical)
chikai (romanization)
tikafi (romanization)
ちかひ (hiragana historical)

連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 誓(ちか)う (chikau, “to swear, vow”).

ja-etym-renyokei

(Shinto, Buddhism) vow that the Buddha pledged to save sentient beings


穢土

(Buddhism) The Impure Land; the earthly realm, the land of the living.


神人

Compound of 神 (kami, “god, spirit”) + 人 (hito, “person”). The hito changes to bito as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

compound

神人の手に取りもたる榊葉に / 木綿かけ添ふる深き夜の霜

kamibito no te ni torimotaru sakakiba ni / yufu kake sofuru fukaki yo no shimo

the deep night's frost accompanies the ceremonial ties / on the sakaki leaves held in the hands of the priests


神人

[ka̠mʲĩɲ̟t͡ɕɨ]

From Okinawan 神人, in turn from 神 (kami, “god, spirit”) + ん (n, possessive particle, reduced form of ぬ (nu)) + 人 (tchu, “person”).

af

possessive particle, reduced form of <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ryu">ぬ</i> (nu)

(Okinawa, Shinto) Synonym of 巫女 (miko, “shrine maiden”)


声明

ja-noun

声(しょう)明(みょう) • (shōmyō)


絵馬

絵馬 (canonical)
ema (romanization)
wema (romanization)
ゑま (hiragana historical)

(Shinto) an ema, a small wooden plaque on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes, usually with the picture of a horse on it


煩悩

/bonːau/ → /bonːɔː/ → /bonːoː/
From Middle Chinese 煩惱 (MC bjon nawX), itself a translation of Sanskrit क्लेश (kleśa, literally “anguish, pain”).


錫杖

ja-noun

錫(しゃく)杖(じょう) • (shakujō) ^(←しやくぢやう (syakudyau)?) (counter 本)

錫杖 (canonical)
shakujō (romanization)
syakudyau (romanization)
本 (counter)
しやくぢやう (hiragana historical)

[ɕa̠kɯ̟ʑo̞ː]

Compound of 錫 (shaku, “tin, stannum”) + 杖 (jō, “staff”).

compound

(Buddhism, weaponry) A khakkhara; Buddhist monk's "sounding staff".

錫杖草

錫杖草 シャクジョウソウ


仏書

(Buddhism) a Buddhist text, scripture, or sutra


輪廻

輪廻 (canonical)
rinne (romanization)
rin'we (romanization)
りんゑ (hiragana historical)

貧は菩提の種富は輪廻の絆

hin wa bodai no tane tomi wa rinne no kizuna

/rinwe/ → /rinɰe/ → /rinːe/
From Middle Chinese 輪迴 (MC lwin hwoj, literally “wheel + revolve”), itself a translation of Sanskrit संसार (saṃsāra, literally “passing, wandering”).
The e reading for 廻 changes to ne as an instance of renjō (連声).

ja-renjo

(philosophy, religion, especially in Buddhism) samsara (endless cycle of life, death, and reincarnation); metempsychosis