true, reality, Buddhist sect
真 centers on what is genuine and actual: truth, reality, and things as they really are. The Buddhist sect meaning is a specific application of this idea of ultimate truth.
真 is thought to combine 匕 (a spoon or person) with 鼎 (a tripod vessel) or 貝 (shell), later simplified to the modern form with 十 and 具. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character has long been associated with truth and reality.
The top 十 (ten) and bottom 具 (tool) suggest a perfect, complete tool: something that is exactly as it should be, true and real.
For シン, imagine a true statement shining like a bright light: shin -> シン, and the truth is revealed.
photograph; photo; picture; photography
truth; reality; genuineness
truth; reality
serious; earnest; sober; grave
serious; earnest
imitating; copying; mimicry
middle; centre; center; midpoint; heart
truth; real situation
middle of summer; height of summer; midsummer
bright red; deep red; flushed (of face)
truth
straight (ahead); direct; upright; erect
dead of night; midnight
pure white
vacuum
the head; the foremost; beginning; the very front
pitch-dark; pitch-black; completely dark
pitch black
pearl
sincere; earnest; serious
serious look (on one's face); straight face
real intention; true motive; true meaning
proper; respectable; decent; honest
midwinter; dead of winter
truth or falsehood; genuineness; authenticity; veracity
right in the middle (of); midst; height
right above; just above; directly above; directly overhead
directly opposite; right in front
deep blue; bright blue
directly opposite; right in front
sincerity; true heart; devotion
true value; real worth
essence; quintessence; spirit; soul; heart; pith (and marrow)
Jōdo Shinshū (offshoot of the Jōdo sect); True Pure Land School
to mimic; to imitate
brand new
perfect circle
blueprint; cyanotype
in two equal parts
photographer
photography; taking photographs
photo book (esp. one featuring photos of female celebrities, models); photobook
true; real; genuine; proper; utter
square