霊前(れいぜん)

れいぜん
noun
before the spirit of the deceased
formalreligionculture
1. before the spirit of the deceased
The place in front of a dead person's spirit; in practice, the altar or photograph set up at a wake or funeral, where offerings are made.
霊前(れいぜん)に花(はな)を供(そな)える。
To offer flowers before the spirit of the deceased.
故人(こじん)の霊前(れいぜん)で手(て)を合(あ)わせた。
I put my hands together in prayer before the deceased's altar.
香典(こうでん)の袋(ふくろ)には「御霊前(ごれいぜん)」と書(か)くのが一般的(いっぱんてき)だが、宗派(しゅうは)によっては使(つか)わない。
It is usual to write 御霊前 on a condolence-money envelope, but some Buddhist sects do not use it.

Common collocations

Cultural note

御霊前(ごれいぜん) is the usual inscription on a 香典(こうでん) envelope at a wake or funeral. Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, who hold that the dead become buddhas at once, write 御仏前(ごぶつぜん) instead, and other Buddhists switch to 御仏前(ごぶつぜん) after the 49th-day service.

general
Added 2026.10.20 22:04 · Revised 2026.10.20 22:07
32000/32157_reizen