ghee; ultimate Buddhist truth; nirvana
Originally a Buddhist term for ghee, considered the finest flavor; figuratively used for the highest truth or nirvana. In modern Japanese, it is most often encountered in the set phrase 醍醐味 (だいごみ) meaning 'the real pleasure' or 'the true charm' of something.
See also: 五味
In Buddhism, ghee is considered the greatest of the five flavors.
The real pleasure of this work lies in its detailed psychological portrayal.
real pleasure; true charm; essence of enjoyment · flavor of ghee; delicious taste (figurative) · Buddha's gracious teachings
Standard kanji spelling; used in both Buddhist and figurative contexts.
Kana spelling is sometimes used for clarity, especially in non-Buddhist contexts.
From Middle Chinese 醍醐 (dej gu), itself a transliteration of a Sanskrit or Prakrit word for ghee. The figurative Buddhist meaning developed from the idea of ghee as the supreme flavor.