also: ざいか
country home; farmhouse; cottage
Refers to a house in the countryside, often a traditional farmhouse or rural dwelling. Not a Buddhist term.
He hasn't become a monk; he studies Buddhism deeply as a layperson.
Even lay believers can participate in the training.
My grandparents' farmhouse is surrounded by rice fields.
I like spending weekends at the cottage in the mountains.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses; reading ざいけ is the most common.
Rare alternate reading; may appear in historical or Buddhist contexts.
From Middle Chinese 在家 (dzojX kɛ, 'to be at home'). The Buddhist sense developed from the idea of remaining in the secular world rather than entering a monastery. The 'country home' sense is a straightforward extension of 'being at home' in a rural setting.