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瞑目合掌 (めいもくがっしょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

瞑めい目もく合がっ掌しょう

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

closing one's eyes and joining one's hands in prayer

A formal, often Buddhist-influenced gesture of prayer or reverence. Used in solemn contexts such as funerals, memorials, or deep personal prayer.

僧そう侶りょは瞑めい目もく合がっ掌しょうして読経どきょうを始はじめた。
The monk closed his eyes, joined his hands in prayer, and began chanting sutras.
仏ぶつ壇だんの前まえで瞑めい目もく

合がっ

掌しょう

し

、

故こ

人じん

を

偲しの

ん

だ

。

I closed my eyes and put my hands together in prayer before the family altar, remembering the deceased.

Kanji

瞑sleep, dark, close eyes
目eye, class, look
合fit, suit, join
掌palm of hand, rule, administer

Similar words

合がっ掌しょう
合掌 refers specifically to joining one's hands in prayer, without the element of closing the eyes. 瞑目合掌 is a more complete ritual gesture combining both actions.
黙もく祷とう
黙祷 is a silent prayer or moment of silence, often performed standing with head bowed, and does not necessarily involve the hand gesture of 合掌.

Etymology

Compound of 瞑目 (closing one's eyes) and 合掌 (joining one's hands in prayer), both terms of Buddhist origin. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination is used as a set phrase for a formal prayer posture.