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山主 (さんしゅ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

山さん主しゅ

Meanings

1

noun

head priest of a Buddhist temple

Refers to the chief priest or abbot of a Buddhist temple. The term is specific to Buddhist contexts.

山さん主しゅは毎まい朝あさ、本ほん堂どうでお経きょうをあげる。
The head priest chants sutras in the main hall every morning.

Kanji

山mountain
主lord, chief, master

Similar words

住じゅう職しょく
住職 is the more common term for the head priest of a Buddhist temple. 山主 is a less frequent synonym, often used in specific temple names or traditional contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 山 (mountain, often used in temple names) and 主 (master, lord). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term likely originated from the practice of naming temples after mountains.