noun
dharmalaksana; characteristics of dharmas
Buddhist technical term referring to the specific characteristics of all manifest phenomena. Contrasted with 法性 (ほっしょう, dharmata, the essential nature of dharmas).
See also: 法性
唯識では、法相と法性の区別が重要である。
In Consciousness-Only thought, the distinction between dharmalaksana and dharmata is important.
noun
Hosso sect
Abbreviation of 法相宗 (ほっそうしゅう), the Japanese Yogācāra school. Used mainly in historical or academic contexts.
See also: 法相宗
法相は奈良時代に栄えた仏教の一派である。
The Hosso sect is a school of Buddhism that flourished in the Nara period.
法性 refers to the essential nature or suchness of dharmas, while 法相 refers to their specific characteristics.
法相宗 is the full name of the Hosso sect; 法相 is its common abbreviation.
From Middle Chinese 法相 (pjop sjang), a Buddhist term translating Sanskrit dharmalakṣaṇa. The abbreviation sense is a shortening of 法相宗.