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祖師西来 (そしせいらい, soshiseirai) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

祖そ師し西せい来らい

Meanings

1

Bodhidharma's coming from the west

Buddhist term referring to the legendary journey of Bodhidharma from India to China, often symbolizing the transmission of Zen. Used in Zen contexts.

祖そ師し西せい来らいの意いは、禅ぜんの伝でん来らいを象しょう徴ちょうする故こ事じとして知しられている。
The meaning of Bodhidharma's coming from the west is known as a legend symbolizing the transmission of Zen.

Kanji

祖ancestor, pioneer, founder
師expert, teacher, master
西west, Spain
来come, due, next

Etymology

From 祖師 (founder/patriarch, referring to Bodhidharma) + 西来 (coming from the west). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is a set expression in Zen Buddhism.