1.
sacred place; holy site; spiritual ground
A place considered to have spiritual significance or divine power, often associated with shrines, temples, or natural sites believed to house deities or spirits.
この山は古くからの霊地だ。
This mountain has been a sacred place since ancient times.
霊地を巡る旅に出た。
I set out on a journey visiting sacred places.
熊野は日本を代表する霊地のひとつで、多くの巡礼者が訪れる。
Kumano is one of Japan's most renowned sacred places, and many pilgrims visit there.
Composed of 霊 (spirit, soul) + 地 (place, ground). Refers to locations believed to have spiritual power or divine significance in Shinto, Buddhism, or folk religion.
CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan has many famous 霊地, including mountain peaks, ancient forests, waterfalls, and temple/shrine complexes. These are often destinations for pilgrimage (巡礼) and spiritual practice (修行). Examples include 高野山, 熊野, and 出羽三山.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 霊地を巡る: to visit sacred places
- 霊地巡礼: pilgrimage to sacred places
- 古の霊地: an ancient holy site
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 聖地: holy land, sacred place — often used for both religious and secular "mecca" (e.g., anime pilgrimage sites)
- 霊場: sacred place of worship — specifically a pilgrimage site, often part of a numbered circuit
- 霊山: sacred mountain