本ほん山ざん

ほ

ん

ざ

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

head temple; main temple

The principal temple of a Buddhist sect or a branch temple's parent temple.

京きょう都との本ほん山ざんを訪たずねた。
I visited the head temple in Kyoto.

2

Used by temple staff or parishioners to refer to their own temple, especially in contrast to branch temples.

本ほん山ざんでは毎まい月つき第だい一いち日にち曜ように法ほう要ようが営いとなまれます。
At this temple, a memorial service is held on the first Sunday of every month.

See all 17 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の本ほん山ざんthe head temple of a (Buddhist) sect
この寺てらは真しん言ごん宗しゅうの本ほん山ざんです。
This temple is the head temple of the Shingon sect.
本ほん山ざんにお参まいりするto make a pilgrimage/visit to the head temple
毎まい年ねん正しょう月がつに本ほん山ざんにお参まいりする人ひとが多おおい。
Many people visit the head temple every New Year.

Kanji

本book, present, main
山mountain

Related words

総そう本ほん山ざん
本山 names any head temple that oversees affiliated temples, while 総本山 specifically means the single supreme head temple of an entire Buddhist sect.

Opposites

末まつ寺じ sense 1
本山 is the head temple that oversees a network, while 末寺 is a branch temple subordinate to it.
別べつ院いん
本山 is the main temple that governs a sect, while 別院 is a branch temple subordinate to it.

Counted with

寺じ sense 1
本山 is counted with 寺, the standard counter for temples, as in 三寺の本山.

Word family

総そう本ほん山ざん
head temple of a Buddhist sect · headquarters; nerve center
大だい本ほん山ざん
head temple of a Buddhist sect

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound of 本, “principal,” and 山, which can designate a Buddhist temple or monastery. It denotes the principal temple overseeing the subordinate temples of a school or branch.