also: あらぼとけ · にいぼとけ
noun
spirit of someone on the first Obon after their death
Refers to the spirit of a person who died within the past year, honored during their first Obon festival. The term is specific to Buddhist memorial customs.
See also: お盆
今年の盆は、新仏の供養をします。
This Obon, we will hold a memorial service for the newly departed spirit.
noun
recently deceased person
General term for someone who has recently died and been buried or cremated. Less common than sense 1; often used in a Buddhist context.
I put my hands together in prayer before the spirit of the recently deceased.
Alternate reading; less common than しんぼとけ.
お盆 is the Obon festival itself, while 新仏 refers specifically to the spirit of someone who died within the past year and is honored during their first Obon.
Compound of 新 (new) and 仏 (Buddha, deceased person). The term likely originated in Buddhist memorial practices for the recently deceased.