Seng, Sēng: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Seng means something in Buddhism, Pali, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Buddhism
Chinese Buddhism
1) 僧 [seng]—A fully ordained monk, i.e. a bhikṣu as contrasted with the śramaņa.
2) 僧 [seng]—saṅgha, an assembly, collection, company, society. The corporate assembly of at least three (formerly four) monks under a chairman, empowered to hear confession, grant absolution, and ordain. The church or monastic order, the third member of the triratna. The term 僧 [seng] used alone has come to mean a monk, or monks in general. Also 僧佉 [seng qu], 僧加 [seng jia], 僧企耶 [seng qi ye].
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
僧 [seng]—Sēng — [Term] An abbreviation of Saṃgha (伽 [jia]). Translated as "harmony" (和 [he]) or "multitude/assembly" (眾 [zhong]). It refers to four or more bhikṣus (比丘 [bi qiu]) who unite to form an assembly. Newer interpreters, however, consider it to be three or more. The Mahāprajñāpāramitā Upadeśa (Chapter 3) states: "Saṃgha (伽 [jia]), in Qin (Chinese) it means 'assembly' (眾 [zhong]). When many bhikṣus gather in one place in harmony (和合 [he he]), this is called Saṃgha." Sēng cannot refer to a single person. The Record of the Buddhist Kingdoms (Chapter 3) states: "Whenever there are letters exchanged, one should write 'seeking tranquility [name]' or 'junior bhikṣu [name]' (omitted text), but one must not say 'sēng [name]'. Sēng is Saṃgha (伽 [jia]), referring to the great assembly (大眾 [da zhong]); how can a single person suddenly claim to be four? There is no such practice in the West (India)." Nevertheless, if it is a part of the sēng, then calling it sēng is also harmless. The Abridged History of Monasticism (Volume 2) states: "If one simply says 'sēng', then only four or more people can be called it. However, nowadays, calling a part of the sēng 'sēng' is also not unreasonable. For instance, 12,500 people form an army (軍 [jun]), but a single person can also be called 'army' (referring to a soldier); the same applies to sēng." The Mahāyāna Dharma-gama (Chapter 10) states: "Sēng, in the correct foreign pronunciation, is called Saṃgha (伽 [jia]). In this land (China), it is translated as 'harmony and unity' (和合 [he he]). When the conduct and virtues of the assembly do not deviate, it is called 'harmony' (和 [he]); and those who are in harmony, when they are not just one person, are called 'assembly' (眾 [zhong])." The Record of Practices states: "Four or more people who can manage the sacred Dharma and accomplish previous affairs are called sēng. Sēng means 'harmony and unity' (和合 [he he]). The term 'harmony and unity' has two meanings: 1. Harmony in principle (理和 [li he]): refers to realizing the extinction through discernment (nirvāṇa). 2. Harmony in affairs (事和 [shi he]). This further has six meanings: 1. Harmony in precepts (戒和 [jie he]): practicing the same precepts. 2. Harmony in views (見和 [jian he]): having the same understanding. 3. Harmony in body (身和 [shen he]): dwelling together. 4. Harmony in benefits (利和 [li he]): sharing benefits equally (equal distribution of offerings). 5. Harmony in speech (口和 [kou he]): having no disputes. 6. Harmony in mind (意和 [yi he]): sharing the same joy." The Commentary on the Record of Practices (Vol. 1, Part 4) states: "There are six types of harmony (和 [he]): precepts, views, and benefits are called 'harmony in essence' (體和 [ti he]); body, speech, and mind are called 'harmony in appearance' (相和 [xiang he]). Furthermore, from the first fruition onward, it is called 'harmony in principle' (理和 [li he]), because their realization is the same. While those still in the inner ordinary stage are called 'harmony in affairs' (事和 [shi he]), which are the six harmonies." The Chapter on Meanings (Volume 6) states: "Three or more people constitute the essence of sēng, as deliberations require multiple people. According to the law of that country (India): one is called 'one', two are called 'a body', and from three upwards, all are called 'many'. For example, to conduct a Dharma ritual, four people are required. When one person says, 'Venerable sēng, please listen,' the three people in harmony are called sēng. If four were strictly the minimum for sēng, how could the one making the announcement announce to himself? This is to show that harmony comes from multiple people; therefore, from three upwards, all can be called sēng." The minimum number of bhikṣus for a Saṃgha (伽 [jia]) is the minimum number of sēng required for a Karma (羯磨 [jie mo]).
僧—【術語】僧伽 Saṁgha 之略。譯曰和或眾。四人已上之比丘和而為眾。新譯家以為三人已上。智度論三曰：「僧伽，秦言眾。多比丘一處和合，是名僧伽。」僧非可名一人之上。寄歸傳三曰：「凡有書疏往還，題云求寂某乙、小苾芻某乙，（中略）不可言僧某乙。僧是僧伽，目乎大眾，寧容一己輒道四人，西方無此法也。」雖然，僧之一分，則言僧亦無害。僧史略下曰：「若單曰僧，則四人已上方得稱之。今謂分稱為僧，理亦無爽。如萬二千五百人為軍，或單己一人亦稱軍也，僧亦同之。」大乘義章十曰：「僧者外國正音名曰僧伽，此方翻譯名和合，眾行德不乖名之為和，和者非人目之為眾。」行事鈔曰：「四人已上，能御聖法辦得前事名之為僧。僧以和合為義，言和合者有二義：一理和謂證擇滅故。二事和。此別有六義：一戒和同修，二見和同解，三身和同住，四利和同均（均供養之利），五口和無諍，六意和同悅。」行事鈔資持記上一之四曰：「和有六：戒見利三名體和，身口意三名相和。又初果以後名理和，所證同故。內凡以還名事和，即六和也。」義林章六本曰：「三人已上是僧體也，從多論議故。彼國之法：一名為一，二名為身，自三已上皆名為多。如辦法事，四人方成。一人白言，大德僧聽，所和三人得名僧故。若四是僧，豈能白者而自白耶？欲顯和合從多人故，自三已上皆得名僧。」僧伽之比丘最少數，得為羯磨之最少限僧數也。
[shù yǔ] sēng jiā Saṁgha zhī lüè. yì yuē hé huò zhòng. sì rén yǐ shàng zhī bǐ qiū hé ér wèi zhòng. xīn yì jiā yǐ wèi sān rén yǐ shàng. zhì dù lùn sān yuē: “sēng jiā, qín yán zhòng. duō bǐ qiū yī chù hé hé, shì míng sēng jiā.” sēng fēi kě míng yī rén zhī shàng. jì guī chuán sān yuē: “fán yǒu shū shū wǎng hái, tí yún qiú jì mǒu yǐ,, xiǎo bì chú mǒu yǐ, (zhōng lüè) bù kě yán sēng mǒu yǐ. sēng shì sēng jiā, mù hū dà zhòng, níng róng yī jǐ zhé dào sì rén, xī fāng wú cǐ fǎ yě.” suī rán, sēng zhī yī fēn, zé yán sēng yì wú hài. sēng shǐ lüè xià yuē: “ruò dān yuē sēng, zé sì rén yǐ shàng fāng dé chēng zhī. jīn wèi fēn chēng wèi sēng, lǐ yì wú shuǎng. rú wàn èr qiān wǔ bǎi rén wèi jūn, huò dān jǐ yī rén yì chēng jūn yě, sēng yì tóng zhī.” dà chéng yì zhāng shí yuē: “sēng zhě wài guó zhèng yīn míng yuē sēng jiā, cǐ fāng fān yì míng hé hé, zhòng xíng dé bù guāi míng zhī wèi hé, hé zhě fēi rén mù zhī wèi zhòng.” xíng shì chāo yuē: “sì rén yǐ shàng, néng yù shèng fǎ bàn dé qián shì míng zhī wèi sēng. sēng yǐ hé hé wèi yì, yán hé hé zhě yǒu èr yì: yī lǐ hé wèi zhèng zé miè gù. èr shì hé. cǐ bié yǒu liù yì: yī jiè hé tóng xiū, èr jiàn hé tóng jiě, sān shēn hé tóng zhù, sì lì hé tóng jūn (jūn gōng yǎng zhī lì), wǔ kǒu hé wú zhèng, liù yì hé tóng yuè.” xíng shì chāo zī chí jì shàng yī zhī sì yuē: “hé yǒu liù: jiè jiàn lì sān míng tǐ hé, shēn kǒu yì sān míng xiāng hé. yòu chū guǒ yǐ hòu míng lǐ hé, suǒ zhèng tóng gù. nèi fán yǐ hái míng shì hé, jí liù hé yě.” yì lín zhāng liù běn yuē: “sān rén yǐ shàng shì sēng tǐ yě, cóng duō lùn yì gù. bǐ guó zhī fǎ: yī míng wèi yī, èr míng wèi shēn, zì sān yǐ shàng jiē míng wèi duō. rú bàn fǎ shì, sì rén fāng chéng. yī rén bái yán, dà dé sēng tīng, suǒ hé sān rén dé míng sēng gù. ruò sì shì sēng, qǐ néng bái zhě ér zì bái yé？ yù xiǎn hé hé cóng duō rén gù, zì sān yǐ shàng jiē dé míng sēng.” sēng jiā zhī bǐ qiū zuì shǎo shù, dé wèi jié mó zhī zuì shǎo xiàn sēng shù yě.
[shu yu] seng jia Samgha zhi lue. yi yue he huo zhong. si ren yi shang zhi bi qiu he er wei zhong. xin yi jia yi wei san ren yi shang. zhi du lun san yue: "seng jia, qin yan zhong. duo bi qiu yi chu he he, shi ming seng jia." seng fei ke ming yi ren zhi shang. ji gui chuan san yue: "fan you shu shu wang hai, ti yun qiu ji mou yi,, xiao bi chu mou yi, (zhong lue) bu ke yan seng mou yi. seng shi seng jia, mu hu da zhong, ning rong yi ji zhe dao si ren, xi fang wu ci fa ye." sui ran, seng zhi yi fen, ze yan seng yi wu hai. seng shi lue xia yue: "ruo dan yue seng, ze si ren yi shang fang de cheng zhi. jin wei fen cheng wei seng, li yi wu shuang. ru wan er qian wu bai ren wei jun, huo dan ji yi ren yi cheng jun ye, seng yi tong zhi." da cheng yi zhang shi yue: "seng zhe wai guo zheng yin ming yue seng jia, ci fang fan yi ming he he, zhong xing de bu guai ming zhi wei he, he zhe fei ren mu zhi wei zhong." xing shi chao yue: "si ren yi shang, neng yu sheng fa ban de qian shi ming zhi wei seng. seng yi he he wei yi, yan he he zhe you er yi: yi li he wei zheng ze mie gu. er shi he. ci bie you liu yi: yi jie he tong xiu, er jian he tong jie, san shen he tong zhu, si li he tong jun (jun gong yang zhi li), wu kou he wu zheng, liu yi he tong yue." xing shi chao zi chi ji shang yi zhi si yue: "he you liu: jie jian li san ming ti he, shen kou yi san ming xiang he. you chu guo yi hou ming li he, suo zheng tong gu. nei fan yi hai ming shi he, ji liu he ye." yi lin zhang liu ben yue: "san ren yi shang shi seng ti ye, cong duo lun yi gu. bi guo zhi fa: yi ming wei yi, er ming wei shen, zi san yi shang jie ming wei duo. ru ban fa shi, si ren fang cheng. yi ren bai yan, da de seng ting, suo he san ren de ming seng gu. ruo si shi seng, qi neng bai zhe er zi bai ye? yu xian he he cong duo ren gu, zi san yi shang jie de ming seng." seng jia zhi bi qiu zui shao shu, de wei jie mo zhi zui shao xian seng shu ye.
僧 ts = sēng p refers to [proper noun] “Sangha; monastic community”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao]; Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: saṃgha, Pali: saṅgha, Japanese: sōgya, Tibetan: dge 'dun; an abbreviation of 僧伽 [seng jia] (BCSD '僧 [seng]', p. 148; BL 'saṃgha', pp. 750-751; Ding '僧 [seng]'; Karashima 2001 '僧 [seng]'; SH '僧 [seng]', p. 85; Tzu Chuang 2012, p. 294).
Chinese Buddhism (漢傳佛教, hanchuan fojiao) is the form of Buddhism that developed in China, blending Mahayana teachings with Daoist and Confucian thought. Its texts are mainly in Classical Chinese, based on translations from Sanskrit. Major schools include Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Tiantai, and Huayan. Chinese Buddhism has greatly influenced East Asian religion and culture.
Biology (plants and animals)
Seng in Congo is the name of a plant defined with Trichoscypha acuminata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Sorindeia mannii Oliv. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzenge schichte und Pflanzengeographie (1881)
· Flora of Tropical Africa (1868)
· Annales du Museé du Congo (Belge), Botanique (1906)
· Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzenge schichte und Pflanzengeographie (1899)
· Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie (1892)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Seng, for example side effects, chemical composition, health benefits, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Chinese-English dictionary
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
僧 [sēng] [seng]—
Noun
1. A Buddhist monk (和尚 [he shang]), a person who leaves home (出家 [chu jia]) to practice Buddhism (修行 [xiu xing]). For example: "The old monk (老 [lao]) enters meditation (入定 [ru ding])." From Tang Dynasty (唐 [tang]) poet Jia Dao (賈島 [jia dao])'s poem "Title on Li Ning's Secluded Dwelling" (題李凝幽居 [ti li ning you ju]): "Birds roost on trees by the pond, a monk knocks on a moonlit door."
2. A surname (姓 [xing]). For example, during the Tang Dynasty (唐代 [tang dai]) there was Seng Kepeng (可朋 [ke peng]).
僧：[名]
1.和尚，出家修行的人。如：「老僧入定」。唐．賈島〈題李凝幽居〉詩：「鳥宿池邊樹，僧敲月下門。」
2.姓。如唐代有僧可朋。
sēng:[míng]
1. hé shàng, chū jiā xiū xíng de rén. rú: “lǎo sēng rù dìng” . táng． jiǎ dǎo 〈tí lǐ níng yōu jū〉 shī: “niǎo sù chí biān shù, sēng qiāo yuè xià mén.”
2. xìng. rú táng dài yǒu sēng kě péng.
seng:[ming]
1. he shang, chu jia xiu xing de ren. ru: "lao seng ru ding" . tang. jia dao
2. xing. ru tang dai you seng ke peng.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
鬙 [sēng] [seng]—
See the entry for 「鬅 [peng]」.
鬙：參見「鬅鬙」條。
sēng: cān jiàn “péng sēng” tiáo.
seng: can jian "peng seng" tiao.
1) 僧 ts = sēng p refers to “(bound form) Buddhist monk (abbr. for 僧伽 [seng1 qie2])”.
2) 鬙 ts = sēng p refers to “short hair/unkempt”..
1) 僧 ts = sēng p refers to [noun] “a Buddhist monk”; Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文 [wen yan wen]; Notes: (Guoyu '僧 [seng]' n 1; Kroll 2015 '僧 [seng]' 1, p. 397; Unihan '僧 [seng]').
2) 僧 ts = sēng p refers to [noun] “a person with dark skin”; Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文 [wen yan wen]; Notes: (Kroll 2015 '僧 [seng]' 2, p. 397)..
3) 僧 ts = sēng p refers to [proper noun] “Seng”; Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 [xian dai han yu] , Subdomain: Names , Concept: Surname 姓氏 [xing shi]; Notes: (Guoyu '僧 [seng]' n 2)..
僧 [sēng] refers to: “community of monks and nuns”.
僧 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 桑渴耶; 弟子衆; 聖弟子衆; 聲聞之衆; 聲聞僧; 聲聞弟子; 聲聞衆.
[Sanskrit] gaṇārya; śrāvaka-saṃgha.
[Tibetan] dge 'dun.
[Vietnamese] tăng.
[Korean] 승 / seung.
[Japanese] ソウ / sō.
Chinese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+14): Cen-katir-pirantanal, Cen-katirnal, Cen-kaypun, Cen-kayvelai, Cenkai, Cenkaiyan, Cenkakam, Cenkal, Cenkalai, Cenkalam, Cenkalankal, Cenkali, Cenkanarai, Cenkantal, Cenkar, Cenkarani, Cenkari, Cenkatai, Cenkatal, Cenkatapparai.
Full-text (+3535): Fan seng, Seng lu, Seng wu, Shi seng, He he seng, Seng su, Seng yi, Seng jia, Seng can, Zhai seng, Yu duo luo seng, Seng jie zhi, Seng zhong, Gao seng, Zhong seng, He seng, Seng jia duo, Shan seng, San seng qi, Seng fang.
Relevant text
Search found 46 books and stories containing Seng, Sēng, 僧, 鬙; (plurals include: Sengs, Sēngs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tibet (Myth, Religion and History) (by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya)
6. The Teachers -Bram ze li byin and lHa rig pa'i seng ge < [Chapter 5 - Tibetan Language and Writing System]
4. India as the source (of Tibetan script) < [Chapter 5 - Tibetan Language and Writing System]
2. The Three Traditional Theories < [Chapter 3 - Nyatri Tsanpo; The First King of Tibet]
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Part 134 - Discourse on the Elder's Son Sangharama < [Agama Section (Volume 1-2)]
Sutta 10: Sangama and His Family < [Part 125 - Ekottara-Agama (Numbered Discourses)]
Sutta 7: Benefits of Merit < [Part 125 - Ekottara-Agama (Numbered Discourses)]
The Buddhist Philanthropist: The Life and Times of Lee Choon Seng < [Volume 13, Issue 2 (2022)]
The Multiple Dialectics of a Text and Author—A Study on Seng Zhao’s... < [Volume 12, Issue 7 (2021)]
An Icon in Motion < [Volume 11, Issue 9 (2020)]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 15g - Other disciples of Gsang pa rgya ras < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Chapter 1 - Translator Rngog together with his lineage < [Book 6 - The Origin of the Mādhyamika (middle way)]
Chapter 25 - Rgwa lo < [Book 10 - The Kālacakra]
Dhyana in the Buddhist Literature (by Truong Thi Thuy La)
3.4 (b): From Seng-Ts’an to Hung-Jen < [Chapter 3 - The Dhyāna in Mahāyāna Literature]
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
The Association of IL-17 and PlGF/sENG Ratio in Pre-Eclampsia and Adverse... < [Volume 20, Issue 1 (2023)]
Erratum < [Volume 17, Issue 8 (2020)]
ADL+ < [Volume 22, Issue 1 (2025)]