外法

Japanese

Etymology 1

Japanese Wikipedia has an article on:

外法

Wikipedia ^ja

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 外法 (MC ngwajH pjop). Literally "outer ways", in reference to the methods or principles of those outside of the Buddhist community. First cited in Japanese to roughly 1120.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) げほー (Heiban – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

外(げ)法(ほう) • (gehō) ^{←げほふ (gefofu)?}

1. (Buddhism) non-Buddhist teachings (from the perspective of Buddhist thought),

   Antonym: 内法 (naihō, “Buddhist teachings”, literally “inner ways”)

   Coordinate terms: 外道 (gedō, referring specifically to tīrthika or non-Buddhism, literally “outer ways”), 外術 (gejutsu, referring to witchcraft, magic, illusion, literally “outer practices”), 魔法 (mahō, “magic, sorcery”)

2. practices involving tengu and witchcraft

   Coordinate terms: 天狗 (tengu), 外法様 (Gehō-sama, epithet for Tengu), 妖術 (yōjutsu, “witchcraft”)

3. short for 外法頭 (gehō atama, literally “outer-ways head”): a skull used for divination and witchcraft
4. (historical) short for 外法下駄 (gehō geta): a type of geta popular in the early Edo period, with a footbed made of paulownia wood and teeth made of oak (possibly so named due to the surname of the first seller of this kind of geta)
5. short for 外法頭 (gehō atama, literally “outer-ways head”) alternative name for 福禄寿 (Fukurokuju), one of the Seven Lucky Gods (so named for his elongated forehead)

Derived terms

• 外法頭(げほうあたま) (gehō atama): a skull used for divination and witchcraft
• 外法下駄(げほうげた) (gehō geta): a type of geta popular in the early Edo period, with a footbed made of paulownia wood and teeth made of oak
• 外法様(げほうさま) (Gehō-sama): an epithet for Tengu
• 外法箱(げほうばこ) (gehōbako): a box used by practitioners of tengu-related witchcraft to hold their paraphernalia

Etymology 2

Compound of 外 (soto, “outer, outside”) +‎ 法 (nori, “measurement”).

First cited in 1717.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) そとのり (Heiban – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

外(そと)法(のり) • (sotonori) 

1. the outer dimensions or measurement of something

   Antonym: 内法 (uchinori, “inner dimensions or measurement of something”)

References