also: めいごう
Buddha's name; name of a Buddha
Only with reading みょうごう
Buddhist term, especially referring to the name of a Buddha or bodhisattva used in prayer or invocation, such as 南無阿弥陀仏.
When chanting the nembutsu, one recites the name of Amida Buddha.
Only with reading めいごう
Rare, literary word for fame or renown, read as めいごう. Not used in everyday conversation.
His fame spread throughout the country.
the six-character name of Amida Buddha
Standard kanji spelling for the Buddhist sense; also used for the fame sense with reading めいごう.
Reading used for the 'fame/renown' sense; less common than みょうごう.
From 名 (name) + 号 (title/name). The Buddhist sense is a specialized use referring to the sacred name of a Buddha. The reading みょうごう is the go-on reading, common in Buddhist terminology.