also: せいるい
noun
living things; living creatures
A somewhat formal or literary term for living beings, often used in historical, religious, or ethical contexts (e.g., 生類憐れみの令).
生類を大切にすることは、多くの宗教で教えられている。
Caring for living things is taught in many religions.
江戸時代に生類憐れみの令
The Edicts on Compassion for Living Things were issued in the Edo period.
生物 is the common, everyday word for 'living things' or 'organisms'. 生類 is more formal and often carries a moral or historical nuance.
Compound of 生 (life, living) and 類 (kind, category). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used since classical times to refer to living beings collectively.