noun
monument commemorating a virtuous deed
A formal stone monument or stele erected to honor a person's meritorious or virtuous act. Often found in historical or ceremonial contexts.
村の入り口に古い頌徳碑が立っている。
An old monument commemorating a virtuous deed stands at the entrance to the village.
この頌徳碑は江戸時代の義民を称えて建てられた。
This monument was erected to honor a righteous person from the Edo period.
石碑 is a generic stone monument or tombstone, whereas 頌徳碑 is a specific type of stone monument with an honorific purpose.
From 頌 (しょう, 'praise') + 徳 (とく, 'virtue') + 碑 (ひ, 'monument'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound follows classical Chinese-style word formation.