Definition

1. Noun:
   • High-ranking bonze: A term of respect for an elderly Buddhist monk who holds a senior position within the monastic hierarchy, often implying advanced age, high spiritual attainment, and venerable status.
   • Venerable monk: An honorific title for a senior monk, emphasizing reverence for their age and religious authority.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sư cụ đang tụng kinh trong chánh điện. (The high-ranking bonze is chanting sutras in the main hall.)
  • Các Phật tử rất kính trọng vị sư cụ. (The Buddhists deeply respect the venerable monk.)
  • Ngôi chùa này do một sư cụ trụ trì. (This pagoda is presided over by a senior bonze.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "sư cụ" is specifically used in Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhism, particularly in the Northern tradition. It denotes a higher level of respect than "sư" (monk) or "thầy" (teacher/monk), often reserved for those who are abbots or have many decades of monastic life.

Variants and Related Words

• Sư (n): A general term for a Buddhist monk.
• Thượng tọa (n): Venerable, a formal ecclesiastical title for a senior monk.
• Hòa thượng (n): Most Venerable, a high ecclesiastical title.
• Trụ trì (n): Abbot.

Synonyms

• Senior monk: A monk of advanced rank or age.
• Elder bonze: An older, respected Buddhist monk.
• Venerable: Worthy of respect due to age, character, or religious standing.

Related Cultural Notes

• The title "sư cụ" conveys deep reverence and is often used by laypeople and junior monastics. It is not an official ecclesiastical rank like "Hòa thượng" but a common, respectful address reflecting social and spiritual esteem for an elder monk's life and practice.

noun

1. high-ranking bonze