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山霊 (sanrei) Japanese meaning: mountain spirit | Kotomora

山さん霊れい

さ

ん

れ

い

Meanings

1

mountain spirit; mountain god

Refers to a guardian spirit or deity believed to reside in a mountain, often in Japanese folk religion and Shinto contexts.

この山やまには山さん霊れいが宿やどっていると信しんじられている。
It is believed that a mountain spirit dwells in this mountain.

Kanji

山mountain
霊spirits, soul

Related words

山さん神じん
山神 is a more common term for a mountain deity, while 山霊 emphasizes the spiritual or animistic aspect.
山やまの神かみ
山の神 is a more everyday expression for a mountain god, often used in folklore and proverbs.

Etymology

Compound of 山 (mountain) and 霊 (spirit, soul). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is used in Japanese folk religion to refer to the spiritual essence of a mountain.

登と山ざんの前まえに山さん霊れいに祈いのりを捧ささげた。

Before climbing, they offered a prayer to the mountain god.