also: しゅうせい · すじょう
noun
all living beings; sentient beings
Buddhist term referring to all sentient beings, including humans, animals, and other life forms. In broader contexts, it can also mean 'the people' or 'mankind'.
仏教では、すべての衆生に仏性があると説く。
Buddhism teaches that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature.
この経典は、苦しむ衆生を救うため
This sutra is a teaching for saving suffering sentient beings.
Obsolete kana usage; marked as out-dated.
From Middle Chinese 衆生 (tsyuwngH sraeng, 'all living beings'), a translation of Sanskrit sattva or Pāli satta. The term is deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy.