新しん仏ぼとけ

noun

spirit of someone on the first Obon after their death

Refers to the spirit of a person who died within the past year, honored during their first Obon festival. The term is specific to Buddhist memorial customs.

See also: お盆

• 今年ことしの盆ぼんは、新しん仏ぼとけの供く養ようをします。

  This Obon, we will hold a memorial service for the newly departed spirit.

noun

recently deceased person

General term for someone who has recently died and been buried or cremated. Less common than sense 1; often used in a Buddhist context.

• 新しん仏ぼとけの霊れい前ぜんで手てを合あわせた。

  I put my hands together in prayer before the spirit of the recently deceased.