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(おきょう)を読(よ)んだ。
I read sutras in front of the Buddhist altar on my grandfather's death anniversary.

BUTSUDAN COMPONENTS:

  • 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)

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)

CONTRAST:

  • 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)
Contrast: 神棚(かみだな) (Shinto altar)
general
Added 2026.1.19 8:18 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07116_butsudan