법사

Korean

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [pʌ̹ps͈a̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [법싸]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	beopsa
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	beobsa
McCune–Reischauer?	pŏpsa
Yale Romanization?	pep.sa

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 法師, from 法 (“law; dharma”) + 師 (“teacher”). The Buddhist meaning was adapted by the indigenous religion due to widespread syncretism between the two.

Noun

법사 • (beopsa) (hanja 法師)

1. (honorific) Buddhist monk, especially one famed for wisdom and learning

   Synonym: 고승(高僧) (goseung)

   Hypernyms: 스님 (seunim, “Buddhist monk”), 중 (jung, “Buddhist monk”)

2. (originally Chungcheong, now general) male priest of Korean shamanism (the indigenous religion of the country) whose specialization is in the recitation of scriptures, mantras, and incantations

   Hypernyms: 무속인(巫俗人) (musogin, “priest”), 무당 (mudang, “priest, shaman”); see also Thesaurus:무속인

3. (by extension) any male shaman

   Synonyms: 박수 (baksu), 남무(男巫) (nammu)

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 法 (“law; dharma”) + 嗣 (“heir”).

Noun

법사 • (beopsa) (hanja 法嗣)

1. (Buddhism) dharma heir; the inheritor in a dharma lineage

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 法 (“law”) + 司 (“oversee”).

Noun

법사 • (beopsa) (hanja 法司)

1. (historical) In Joseon Korea (1392—1910), a grouping of various government agencies with judicial authority, most notably the Ministry of Justice

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 法事, from 法 (“law; dharma”) + 事 (“affairs”).

Noun

법사 • (beopsa) (hanja 法事)

1. (Buddhism) Synonym of 불사(佛事) (bulsa, “Buddhist ritual; Buddhism”)