1.
reincarnation; transmigration of the soul; cycle of death and rebirth
The Buddhist and Hindu concept that the soul is reborn into a new body after death, continuing in an endless cycle until enlightenment is achieved.
A four-character compound (四字熟語) composed of 輪廻 (samsara, cycle of rebirth) + 転生 (rebirth, reincarnation). A fundamental concept in Buddhism that has deeply influenced Japanese culture and appears frequently in literature, anime, and manga.
Common collocations
- 輪廻転生を信じる: to believe in reincarnation
- 輪廻転生の思想: the concept of reincarnation
- 輪廻転生から解脱する: to be liberated from the cycle of rebirth
Cultural note
In modern Japanese popular culture, 転生 (reincarnation) has become a hugely popular genre in light novels and anime, known as 異世界転生 (isekai reincarnation), where characters are reborn in fantasy worlds.