noun
holy monk; saintly priest; Buddhist solitary; Buddhist missionary
Refers to a highly virtuous Buddhist monk, often one who lives in seclusion or travels to spread teachings. Sense 2 is an honorific use for any monk. Sense 3 specifically denotes a solitary practitioner. Sense 4 is a missionary, as in 高野聖 (Kōya hijiri).
高野聖は、昔、全国を回って布教した僧侶のことだ。
Kōya hijiri were monks who traveled around the country to spread Buddhism in the past.
彼は世俗を離れ、聖として山にこもった。
noun
A person of exceptional virtue, not limited to Buddhism. Can be used metaphorically for anyone of great moral character.
彼女はまるで聖のような人だ。
She is like a saint.
noun
Archaic honorific term for the emperor. Not used in modern Japanese.
古文書には「聖」が天皇を指す例が見られる。
In ancient documents, there are examples where 聖 refers to the emperor.
noun
Used in the pattern 〜の聖 to indicate a master or expert in a field, e.g., 歌の聖 (master of poetry).
彼は「歌の聖」と呼ばれるほどの歌人だった。
He was a poet so great that he was called the 'master of poetry'.
He left the secular world and secluded himself in the mountains as a holy monk.
僧侶 is the general term for a Buddhist monk, while 聖 emphasizes exceptional virtue or a specific historical role.
聖人 is a more common word for 'saint' in a moral sense, often used in Confucian or general contexts. 聖 is more archaic or Buddhist-specific.
Originally referred to a person of high virtue or holiness, especially in a Buddhist context. The reading ひじり is of native Japanese origin, while the kanji 聖 carries the meaning of 'holy' or 'sage'. The exact derivation of ひじり is uncertain, but it may be related to 日知り (sun-knower) or 火知り (fire-knower), suggesting one who knows the divine or natural order.