also: せいけい · しょうぎょう
noun
sutra; holy writings
Refers broadly to sacred texts, especially Buddhist sutras, but can also denote other religious scriptures.
この寺には古い聖経が保管されている。
Old sutras are kept at this temple.
noun
writings of a sage
Only with reading せいきょう / せいけい
Used for the works of a wise person or sage, not necessarily religious.
彼は孔子の聖経を研究している。
He studies the writings of Confucius.
noun
Only with reading せいきょう / せいけい
Dated Christian term for the Bible; modern Japanese normally uses 聖書.
明治時代の文献では、聖経が聖書を指すことがある。
In Meiji-era documents, 聖経 sometimes refers to the Bible.
Compound of 聖 (holy, sacred) and 経 (sutra, scripture). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used in Buddhist and Christian contexts.