化け仏ぶつ

noun

transformed Buddha; manifestation of Buddha

Buddhist term for a Buddha who appears in a transformed or manifested body to teach sentient beings, as opposed to the eternal, formless Dharma-body.

• 法ほ華け経きょうでは、久く遠おん実じつ成じょうの本ほん仏ぶつに対たいし、迹しゃく門もんの仏ぶつを化け仏ぶつと説とく。

  In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha of the trace teaching is explained as a transformed Buddha, in contrast to the original Buddha of the remote past.