divine virtues; divine grace
Primarily a religious term referring to the benevolent power or moral excellence of a deity, especially in Shinto or Buddhist contexts.
神徳を称える祭りが行われた。
A festival was held to praise the divine virtues.
この神社は神徳あらたかと評判だ。
This shrine is reputed to have miraculous divine grace.
Compound of 神 (shin, 'god, deity') and 徳 (toku, 'virtue, benevolence'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally used in religious contexts to refer to the virtues or grace of a deity.