白骨

Readings

Pinyin: báigǔ

Wade-Giles: pai-ku

Hangul: 백골

Korean MC: baekgol

Korean MR: paekkol

Katakana: ハッコツ

Hepburn: hakkotsu

white bones

• The bones of a corpse bleached by the elements. According to the All-pleasing Commentary on the Vinaya 善見律, this appears to be a euphemism, or derogatory term for homeless or impoverished people (in context it seems this term could also refer to monks or other mendicants as well). They are those who beg for food but do not get any, and thus starve to death. Their corpses were then traditionally placed in the wilderness, where their bones would eventually turn white. (Skt. śvetâsthi, asthīni śvetāni, asthi, *śvetâsthika; Tib. rus gong). 〔善見律毘婆沙 T 1462.24.705c27; 瑜伽論 T 1579.30.372b10〕[resp. Tom Newhall; source(s): Hirakawa, Gakken, YBh-Ind, M-W]

Dictionary References:

Buddhist Chinese-Sanskrit Dictionary (Hirakawa), 0862

Sanskrit-Tibetan Index for the Yogâcārabhūmi-śāstra (Yokoyama and Hirosawa), {Digital Version}

Copyright © 2010 -- Charles Muller

generated: 2013-07-07