also: わじょう
noun
priestly teacher; preceptor
Buddhist honorific term for a priestly teacher or preceptor. The pronunciation varies by sect: おしょう in Zen and Pure Land, かしょう in Tendai and Kegon, わじょう in Shingon, Hosso, Ritsu, and Shin Buddhism.
禅宗では、和尚は弟子を指導する師僧を指す。
In Zen Buddhism, 和尚 refers to the master who guides disciples.
noun
Only with reading おしょう / かしょう
Commonly used for a Buddhist monk, especially the head monk or chief priest of a temple. Restricted to the readings おしょう and かしょう.
あの寺の和尚さんはとても親切だ。
The head priest of that temple is very kind.
和尚が毎朝お経をあげる。
The monk chants sutras every morning.
noun
second highest priestly rank
Specific Buddhist rank, below 法眼 (ほうげん). A technical term within the Buddhist hierarchy.
See also: 法眼
僧侶の階級では、和尚は法眼の次に位置する。
In the priestly hierarchy, 和尚 ranks just below 法眼.
noun
Figurative use for a master of an art, trade, or skill. Less common than the Buddhist senses.
彼は料理の世界では和尚と呼ばれるほどの達人だ。
He is such a master in the culinary world that he is called 和尚.
Alternate kanji form used in some Buddhist traditions for the reading わじょう.
From Middle Chinese 和尚 (hwa dzyang), originally a transcription of Sanskrit upādhyāya 'teacher, preceptor'. The kanji 和 ('harmony') and 尚 ('esteem') were used phonetically. The variant 和上 is also found in some Buddhist traditions.