仏 壇(ぶつだん)

ぶつだん

noun

Buddhist altar

1. Buddhist household altar; butsudan

A wooden cabinet-style altar found in many Japanese homes, used for enshrining Buddhist objects, memorial tablets for deceased family members, and making daily offerings.

毎朝(まいあさ)仏壇(ぶつだん)に手(て)を合(あ)わせる。

I pray at the Buddhist altar every morning.

仏壇(ぶつだん)にご飯(はん)とお茶(ちゃ)を供(そな)えた。

I offered rice and tea at the Buddhist altar.

祖父(そふ)の命日(めいにち)に仏壇(ぶつだん)の前(まえ)でお経(きょう)を読(よ)んだ。

I read sutras in front of the Buddhist altar on my grandfather's death anniversary.

RELATED WORDS (parts of a butsudan):

位牌(いはい) (memorial tablet for deceased)
本尊(ほんぞん) (principal Buddha image)
香炉(こうろ) (incense burner)
燭台(しょくだい) (candlestick)
花立(はなた)て (flower vase)
鈴(りん) (bell)

CULTURAL NOTE (daily practices):

お供(そな)え物(もの)をする (to make offerings - water, rice, flowers, incense)
手(て)を合(あ)わせる (to press palms together in prayer)
線香(せんこう)を上(あ)げる (to light incense)

Similar words

神棚(かみだな) (Shinto household altar) - for kami worship
仏壇(ぶつだん) - for Buddhist practice and ancestor veneration

Modern trend: Smaller, modern-style 仏壇(ぶつだん) are becoming popular in apartments where space is limited.

Related Words

Related: 位牌(いはい) (memorial tablet)

Compare: 神棚(かみだな) (Shinto altar)

Related: 念珠(ねんじゅ) (prayer beads)

Related: 仏具(ぶつぐ) (Buddhist altar fittings)

Compare: 仏前(ぶつぜん) (before the Buddhist altar)

Related: 本尊(ほんぞん) (principal Buddha image)

Related: 香炉(こうろ) (incense burner)

Related: 燭台(しょくだい) (candlestick)

general

Added 2026.1.19 8:18 · Revised 2026.10.11 21:20

07000/07116_butsudan