彼ひ岸がん

noun

equinoctial week; Buddhist equinoctial period

Refers to the seven-day period around the spring and autumn equinoxes when Japanese Buddhists visit graves and hold memorial services. Often used in the phrases 春の彼岸 (spring equinoctial week) and 秋の彼岸 (autumn equinoctial week).

• 春はるの彼ひ岸がんには家か族ぞくでお墓はか参まいりに行いきます。

  During the spring equinoctial week, we visit the family grave.

noun

Buddhist equinoctial services

Abbreviation of 彼岸会 (ひがんえ). Refers specifically to the Buddhist memorial services held during the equinoctial week.

See also: 彼岸会

• お寺てらで彼ひ岸がんの法ほう要ようが営いとなまれました。

  A Buddhist equinoctial service was held at the temple.

noun

nirvana; the other shore

Buddhist term. Literally 'the other shore', referring to the state of enlightenment or nirvana, as opposed to 此岸 (しがん, 'this shore'), the world of suffering. Rare in everyday speech.

See also: 此岸

• 仏ぶっ教きょうでは、彼ひ岸がんは悟さとりの境きょう地ちを表あらわします。

  In Buddhism, 彼岸 represents the state of enlightenment.

noun

opposite bank; far shore

Formal or literary term for the opposite bank of a river or shore of a body of water. Not used in everyday conversation; modern Japanese would normally use 向こう岸 or 対岸.

• 川かわの彼ひ岸がんには古ふるい神じん社じゃが見みえた。

  On the opposite bank of the river, an old shrine was visible.