also: ほうじ
noun
sorcerer; wizard; hermit wizard
Historical term for a practitioner of esoteric arts in ancient China, often associated with alchemy, divination, and the search for immortality.
方士は不老長寿の薬を求めて山にこもった。
The sorcerer secluded himself in the mountains in search of an elixir of immortality.
古代中国では、方士が占いやまじないを行っていた。
In ancient China, sorcerers performed divination and incantations.
From Chinese 方士 (fāngshì), literally 'method master', referring to practitioners of esoteric techniques in ancient China. The Japanese reading ほうし is the on'yomi, with the alternate ほうじ being a less common variant.