noun
nocturnal seated Zen meditation
Buddhist term for zazen practiced at night, typically around 8pm. Often used in Zen contexts.
See also: 座禅
禅寺では、夜坐の時間が設けられている。
At the Zen temple, time is set aside for nocturnal seated meditation.
noun
sitting at night
General, non-religious meaning of sitting during the night. Rarely used independently; more often seen in literary or descriptive contexts.
縁側での夜坐は、夏の風物詩だ。
Sitting on the veranda at night is a summer tradition.
座禅 is the general term for seated Zen meditation, while 夜坐 specifically refers to the nighttime session.
Compound of 夜 (night) and 坐 (sitting). The Buddhist sense is a specialized use within Zen practice.