also: じぶつ
attribute of a Buddhist deity; ritual object held by a Buddhist image
Buddhist term referring to the symbolic object held in the hand of a Buddhist statue or painting, such as a lotus, sword, or jewel. Also used for attributes of deities in general.
The attribute of a Kannon statue is often a lotus flower.
不動明王の持物には剣と羂索がある。
Fudō Myōō's attributes include a sword and a rope.
Compound of 持 (ji, 'to hold') and 物 (motsu/butsu, 'thing'). The reading じもつ is the standard Sino-Japanese reading; じぶつ is a less common variant.