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How To Read Posthumous Buddhist Names: Part 4

(This article was written based on the information from https://ka-ju.co.jp/column/kaimyo.)

The meaning and usage of more Igō (rank names).

Shin-Ji (信士, male lay devotee) is the most common rank given to adult men (age 18 and over), while Shin-Nyo (信女, female lay devotee) is usually given to adult women (age 18 and over). Some Buddhist schools use slightly different titles for the same groups of people as follows:

Equivalences for Shin-Ji:
Zen-Ji (善士, honorable man)
Sei-Ji (清士, pure-hearted man)
Shojo-Ji (清浄士, immaculate man)

Equivalences for Shin-Nyo:
Zen-Nyo (善女, honorable woman)
Sei-Jo (清女, pure-hearted woman)
Seijo-Nyo (清浄女, immaculate woman)

Here are other rank names for minors.

Equivalences for Dō-Shi (童子, boy with his hair loose）:
Seidō-Shi (清童子, pure-hearted boy)
Daidō-Shi (大童子, big-hearted boy)
Zendō-Shi (禅童子, focused boy)

Equivalences for Dō-Nyo (童女, girl with his hair loose）:
Seidō-Nyo (清童女, pure-hearted girl)
Daidō-Nyo (大童女, big-hearted girl)
Zendō-Nyo (禅童女, focused girl)

The next post will show the general rankings of the Igō (rank names).

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