tòa sen
Definition
- Noun:
- Lotus throne / Lotus pedestal: The specific seat or platform, often depicted as a stylized lotus flower, upon which a Buddha or Bodhisattva sits or stands in Buddhist iconography and art. It symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and spiritual emergence from the murky waters of samsara (the cycle of rebirth).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Tượng Phật được đặt trên một tòa sen bằng đá. (The Buddha statue is placed upon a stone lotus throne.)
- Trong tranh, Bồ Tát đang an tọa trên tòa sen. (In the painting, the Bodhisattva is serenely seated on a lotus pedestal.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is used almost exclusively in religious, artistic, and cultural contexts related to Buddhism. It denotes not just a physical object but also the spiritual authority and purity of the figure it supports.
Variants and Related Words
- Đài sen (n): lotus platform; often used interchangeably with "tòa sen."
- Bảo tòa (n): precious throne; a more general term for a lofty or precious seat, which can include the lotus throne.
Synonyms
- Lotus seat
- Lotus platform
- Padmāsana (Sanskrit term meaning "lotus position" or "lotus throne")
Related Concepts
- Hoa sen (n): lotus flower; the direct symbol of purity from which the "tòa sen" is derived.
- Sen đạo (n): lotus path; sometimes used metaphorically for the Buddhist path.