Japanese Symbol for

不死

fushi

immortality · undying · eternal life

Readings

  • 不 ONフ・ブfu / bu (not, un-)
  • 死 ONshi (death)
  • 不老不死ふろうふしfurō-fushi (ageless immortality)

Meaning

Immortality, undying, deathless. 不死 literally means "not-death." The fuller expression 不老不死 (furō-fushi — not-aging, not-dying) means complete immortality — the dream of eternal youth and life.

不老不死

furō-fushi

immortality, eternal youth

不死身

fujimi

immortal, invulnerable, indestructible

永生

eisei

eternal life, immortality

仙人

sennin

immortal hermit, sage (Taoist)

不滅

fumetsu

immortality, indestructibility

蓬莱

hōrai

legendary island of immortals

蓬莱 (Hōrai) — the mythical island where immortals live — appears in both Chinese and Japanese legend. Emperor Qin Shi Huang famously sent expeditions to find this island. In Japanese folklore, 仙人 (sennin — immortal sages) lived in mountains, survived on pine needles and dew, and had transcended death through spiritual cultivation.

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