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神明 (しんみょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

神しん明みょう

し

ん

みょ

う

Meanings

1

noun

spirits of heaven and earth; deities

Buddhism

Buddhist term referring to celestial and terrestrial spirits or deities. Not an everyday word; encountered in religious or historical contexts.

このお経きょうには、神しん明みょうへの祈いのりが込こめられている。
This sutra contains prayers to the spirits of heaven and earth.

Kanji

神gods, mind, soul
明bright, light

Similar words

神しん仏ぶつ
神仏 refers broadly to gods and Buddhas, while 神明 specifically denotes spirits of heaven and earth in a Buddhist context.

Etymology

Compound of 神 (divine) and 明 (bright, clear). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is used in Buddhist texts to refer to various spiritual beings.