also: しい
Specifically a black robe worn by Buddhist priests. A literary or technical term used in Buddhist contexts.
A monk wearing a black robe was walking quietly.
Metonymic use: the robe stands for the priest who wears it. Rare and literary; cross-referenced with 僧侶.
See also: 僧侶
An old temple record says 'several tens of priests' (literally 'black robes').
white clothes; white robe · white coat; lab coat; doctor's white gown · commoner without rank (in ancient China) · layperson (Buddhism)
Literary Buddhist term; the kanji 緇 is uncommon. The reading しえ is standard for this compound.
Alternate reading; less common than しえ.
From Chinese 緇衣 (zīyī), literally 'black clothing'. In Japanese Buddhist usage, it refers specifically to the black robe of a priest, and by extension to the priest.