化け城じょう

noun

phantom city; magically created castle

Buddhist term: a city or castle conjured by the Buddha as an expedient means to encourage weary travelers on the path to enlightenment. Used in the Lotus Sutra parable.

• 法ほ華け経きょうの化け城じょう喩ゆ品ひんでは、仏ふつが神じん通ずう力りきで化け城じょうを現あらわす。

  In the 'Parable of the Phantom City' chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha manifests a phantom city through his supernatural powers.