1.
all things are impermanent; the transience of all phenomena
A Buddhist teaching that all conditioned things are in constant flux and nothing remains unchanged. One of the most well-known phrases in Japanese literature and philosophy.
The bells of Gion Monastery echo with the sound of impermanence.
Opening line of The Tale of the Heike.
One of the Three Marks of Existence in Buddhism, expressing that all conditioned phenomena are transient. This phrase is deeply embedded in Japanese culture and literature.
The most famous use is the opening of 平家物語 (The Tale of the Heike): "祇園精舎の鐘の声、諸行無常の響きあり" — a passage that most Japanese people learn in school.
Common collocations
Often invoked when reflecting on the passage of time, the fall of the powerful, or the fleeting nature of beauty and success.