Glossary of Buddhist Terms

Japonista Dictionary › Objects

This glossary gathers the Japanese words most often met in descriptions of Buddhist art, on boxes and in temple life. Deity names have their own entries in the dictionary; for statue terms, see also the Glossary of Buddhist Statue Terms.

B to G

• Bodaiji. A family's temple, where its graves are kept and memorials held.
• Bonji. Sanskrit letters in Siddham script, used as seed syllables for deities.
• Bonnō. The passions, traditionally counted as one hundred and eight.
• Busshi. A sculptor of Buddhist images. See Busshi.
• Butsudan. The household altar. See What Is a Butsudan?
• Butsugu. The implements of the altar.
• Butsuzō. A Buddhist image or statue.
• Chinsō. A portrait of a Zen master.
• Daimoku. The title of the Lotus Sutra, chanted in Nichiren Buddhism.
• Danka. A household affiliated to a particular temple.
• Ennichi. A deity's festival day, such as the 18th for Kannon or the 28th for Fudō.
• Gasshō. Palms joined in reverence.
• Gorintō. A five-tiered stone stupa of the elements, used as a grave marker.

H to K

• Hibutsu. A hidden image, kept in a closed shrine and rarely or never shown.
• Hondō, kondō. The main hall of a temple.
• Honzon. The principal image of a temple or altar.
• Ihai. A lacquered memorial tablet bearing the posthumous name of the dead.
• Kaichō. The public opening of a hidden image, often once in many years.
• Kaigen. The eye-opening rite that consecrates a new image.
• Kaimyō. A posthumous Buddhist name.
• Kebutsu. A small buddha in a crown or halo.
• Kōhai. A halo. See Halos and Pedestals.
• Kuyō. A memorial offering or service.

M to S

• Mandara. A mandala. See The Two Realms Mandala.
• Myōgō. The name of a buddha written as an object of worship.
• Nenbutsu. Calling the name of Amida.
• Obon. The summer festival when ancestors return.
• Ohigan. The equinox weeks of memorial and temple visits.
• Sanmon, Niōmon. The main gate, and the gate of the Niō.
• Sanzon. A triad. See Triads.
• Shakyō. Copying sutras by hand.
• Shōnenuki. The rite that withdraws the spirit from an image before it leaves an altar; the counterpart of kaigen.
• Sotoba. A tall wooden memorial slat placed at a grave.

T to Z

• Tainai nōnyūhin. Objects and inscriptions sealed inside a statue.
• Tō. A pagoda or stupa.
• Tomobako. A box signed by the maker. See Glossary of Box Inscriptions.
• -ji, -in, -an. Suffixes for a temple, a subtemple or a hermitage.
• Zushi. A shrine cabinet. See Zushi.

A note on consecration

In Japanese practice an image is brought to life by the eye-opening rite and, before it leaves an altar, its spirit is withdrawn by shōnenuki. Many collectors and families ask whether this has been done, and it is a courteous question to raise. See The Ethics of Collecting Sacred Art.

See also

• Glossary of Buddhist Objects
• The Four Ranks of Buddhist Deities
• Japanese Era Names