also: ほうしん
noun
dharmakaya; dharma body
In Mahayana Buddhism, the ultimate, formless truth-body of a Buddha, one of the three bodies (三身). A technical term used in doctrinal contexts.
See also: 三身
法身は、仏の真実の姿とされる。
The dharmakaya is considered the true form of a Buddha.
三身説では、法身・報身・応身
In the doctrine of the three bodies, the dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya are taught.
三身 is the collective term for the three bodies of a Buddha: 法身 (dharmakaya), 報身 (sambhogakaya), and 応身 (nirmanakaya). 法身 is the highest, formless aspect.
From Sanskrit dharmakāya, via Chinese 法身 (fǎshēn). The kanji 法 (dharma) and 身 (body) directly translate the original meaning.