portrait of the deceased; memorial photograph
Refers to a photograph of a person who has passed away, typically displayed at a funeral, memorial service, or household Buddhist altar.
A portrait of my late grandfather was displayed on the altar.
Decide in advance who will carry the memorial photograph at the funeral.
We placed my grandfather's memorial photo on the Buddhist altar.
Every morning I put my hands together in prayer before my mother's memorial photo.
My grandmother had her memorial photo taken while she was still alive.
The whole family cried in front of the memorial photograph.
位牌 is a wooden memorial tablet inscribed with the deceased's posthumous name, whereas 遺影 is the photograph of the deceased displayed at funerals or altars.
Compound of 遺 (い, 'leave behind; bequeath') and 影 (えい, 'shadow; image; photograph'), literally 'left-behind image'. The reading いえい follows standard on'yomi.