zun (ancient Chinese bronze wine vessel)
Refers to a specific type of ritual wine container from ancient China, typically made of bronze. Used in art history and archaeology contexts.
A zun from the Shang dynasty is on display at this museum.
honorific prefix for the listener (archaic)
Archaic honorific prefix used to show respect toward the listener. Not productive in modern Japanese; encountered mainly in historical texts or set expressions.
counter for buddhas
Used as a respectful counter for buddhas and sometimes for other highly revered beings in Buddhist contexts. Often seen in sutras or religious texts.
In old documents, 尊 is sometimes prefixed to show respect to the listener, as in 尊公.
This sutra depicts the thirteen buddhas, counted as thirteen 尊.
respect; esteem; reverence
respect; esteem; regard
dignity; majesty; sanctity
principal object of worship; main image · idol; icon; object of adoration · the man himself; the person at the heart of the matter
holy master; guru
haughty; arrogant; pompous
male chauvinism; male domination of women; subjection of women
your countenance; his/her countenance
reverence for the emperor; imperial loyalism
self-respect; pride; self-esteem
I alone am the honored one · self-conceit; self-centeredness; vainglory
ascendant; direct ancestor
reverence; veneration
female superiority; placing women above men
statue of a noble character; revered image
Buddha triad; image of a Buddha with two Bodhisattvas · The Three Jewels; Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha · head and shoulders pattern · three people one must esteem: master, father, teacher
central image of a Buddha triad
respect for women
one's superior; one's boss; one's senior
Obediently yours
your (his/her) health · image of Buddha; sacred image
reverence; deep respect
you (polite, to an older male); elder brother (polite)
you (polite, archaic); your father (polite, archaic)
high and low; aristocrat and plebeian
The kanji 尊 originally depicted a wine vessel held in both hands, symbolizing respect. The Japanese reading そん is the on'yomi, used in all senses here. The noun sense directly borrows the Chinese meaning of the ritual vessel. The archaic honorific prefix and the Buddhist counter both derive from the core meaning of 'revered' or 'honorable'.