also: せいれい
noun
vengeful spirit; living ghost; doppelgänger
In Japanese folklore, a spirit that leaves a living person's body to haunt or harm others, often born from intense hatred or jealousy. Also used for a wraith-like double.
彼女の恨みが生き霊となって彼を苦しめた。
Her grudge turned into a vengeful spirit and tormented him.
昔話では、生
In old tales, people possessed by living ghosts fell ill one after another.
noun
Only when written 生霊 · Only with reading せいれい
Rare reading せいれい used in classical or Buddhist contexts to refer to human beings or spirits. Not used in modern everyday language.
古文書には「生霊」を「せいれい」と読み、人々の魂を指すことがある。
In old documents, 生霊 is read as せいれい and can refer to the souls of people.
Alternate spelling; also used for the reading せいれい with a different meaning.
Reading せいれい is rare and means 'mankind' or 'souls'.
Rare variant using 魑魅 (mountain demons).
Rare variant; same as 生き魑魅 but without き.
Compound of 生き (living) and 霊 (spirit). The concept originates in Japanese folk belief where intense emotions can cause a person's spirit to act independently.