Related words 真しん 言ごん 真言 is the standard term for mantra in Shingon Buddhism and is far more common. 明呪 is a rare synonym used mainly in older or esoteric texts.
陀だ 羅ら 尼に 陀羅尼 (dhāraṇī) refers to longer mnemonic formulas or spells, while 明呪 is a shorter, more focused mantra.
Etymology The term 明呪 is a Sino-Japanese compound: 明 (myō, 'bright, wisdom') and 呪 (ju, 'spell, incantation'). It likely entered Japanese through Buddhist texts, translating the Sanskrit concept of mantra as an enlightened utterance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.
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