彼岸(ひがん)

ひがん
noun
equinox; the other shore (Buddhist)
time-season
See also: お彼岸(ひがん) (polite form)
1. equinoctial week, equinox period
A seven-day period centered on the spring or autumn equinox, during which Japanese families visit graves and make offerings to ancestors. One of the most important Buddhist observances in Japan.
彼岸(ひがん)にお墓参(はかまい)りをする。
We visit graves during the equinox.
春(はる)の彼岸(ひがん)にはぼたもちを作(つく)る。
We make botamochi during the spring equinox.
暑(あつ)さ寒(さむ)さも彼岸(ひがん)まで。
Both heat and cold last only until the equinox.
A well-known proverb meaning extreme weather moderates around the equinox.
2. the other shore, the far bank; nirvana
In Buddhist philosophy, the realm of enlightenment on the other side of the river of suffering. The opposite of 此岸 (this shore, the world of earthly suffering).
彼岸(ひがん)に渡(わた)る。
To cross to the other shore (to attain enlightenment).
仏教(ぶっきょう)では、苦(くる)しみの世界(せかい)を此岸(しがん)、悟(さと)りの世界(せかい)を彼岸(ひがん)と呼(よ)ぶ。
In Buddhism, the world of suffering is called 'this shore' and the world of enlightenment is called 'the other shore.'
修行(しゅぎょう)を重(かさ)ね、ついに彼岸(ひがん)に至(いた)った。
After years of training, he finally reached the other shore.

USAGE (Sense 1):
The 彼岸(ひがん) period lasts seven days: the equinox day itself, three days before, and three days after. There are two per year:

  • 春(はる)の彼岸(ひがん): spring equinox (around March 20-21)
  • 秋(あき)の彼岸(ひがん): autumn equinox (around September 22-23)

Traditional foods

  • ぼたもち: rice balls with sweet bean paste (spring)
  • おはぎ: the same sweet, called おはぎ in autumn (after the bush clover, 萩(はぎ)) and ぼたもち in spring (after the peony, 牡丹(ぼたん))

Common expressions

暑(あつ)さ寒(さむ)さも彼岸(ひがん)まで: Both heat and cold end by the equinox.

USAGE (Sense 2):
From Sanskrit pāramitā (波羅蜜多(はらみった)). The Buddhist concept contrasts 此岸(しがん) (this shore, the world of suffering) with 彼岸(ひがん) (the other shore, nirvana). The equinox observance (sense 1) derives from this concept.

Related Words

Compare: 秋分(しゅうぶん) (autumnal equinox)
Related: 春分(しゅんぶん) (spring equinox)
Compare: 向(む)こう岸(ぎし) (the other shore)
general
Added 2026.2.22 13:29 · Revised 2026.10.15 10:20
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