位い牌はい

noun

Buddhist mortuary tablet; spirit tablet

A wooden tablet inscribed with the posthumous name of a deceased person, placed on the family Buddhist altar (仏壇) and used in memorial rites.

• お盆ぼんには位い牌はいの前まえでお経きょうをあげる。

  During Obon, we chant sutras in front of the mortuary tablet.

• 祖そ母ぼの位い牌はいは仏ぶつ壇だんの中ちゅう央おうに置おいてある。

  My grandmother's spirit tablet is placed in the center of the family altar.