位牌(いはい)

いはい
noun
Buddhist memorial tablet
religion
1. Buddhist memorial tablet
A wooden tablet inscribed with the posthumous Buddhist name of a deceased person, enshrined in a Buddhist altar.
仏壇(ぶつだん)に位牌(いはい)を安置(あんち)している。
We enshrine the memorial tablet in the Buddhist altar.
祖父(そふ)の位牌(いはい)に手(て)を合(あ)わせた。
I put my hands together in prayer before my grandfather's memorial tablet.
位牌(いはい)には戒名(かいみょう)が刻(きざ)まれている。
The memorial tablet is inscribed with the posthumous Buddhist name.

Cultural context: 位牌(いはい) is central to Japanese Buddhist ancestor veneration. It serves as the spiritual seat of the deceased and is treated with great respect.

WHAT'S inscribed

  • 戒名(かいみょう)/法名(ほうみょう): posthumous Buddhist name
  • Date of death
  • Sometimes the secular name

Types

  • 白木(しらき)の位牌(いはい): plain wooden tablet (temporary, for 49 days)
  • 本位牌(ほんいはい): permanent lacquered tablet
  • 繰(く)り出(だ)し位牌(いはい): tablet holding multiple names

Position in sentence

  • Enshrined in the 仏壇(ぶつだん) (Buddhist home altar)
  • Central position of honor
  • Daily offerings of incense, water, and food

Related ceremonies

Related Words

Related: 仏壇(ぶつだん) (Buddhist altar)
Related: 数珠(じゅず) (prayer beads)
Related: お盆(ぼん) (festival for honoring ancestors)
Compare: 過去帳(かこちょう) (death register)
general
Added 2026.1.19 8:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07132_ihai