Wu bu wei, Wǔ bù wèi, Wú bù wèi: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Wu bu wei means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.
In Buddhism
Chinese Buddhism
五怖畏 [wu bu wei]—（五畏 [wu wei]) The five fears of beginners in the bodhisattva-way: fear of (1) giving away all lest they should have no means of livelihood; (2) sacrificing their reputation; (3) sacrificing themselves through dread of dying; (4) falling into evil; (5) addressing an assembly, especially of men of position.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
五怖畏 [wu bu wei]—The Five Fears—[A Numerical Term] Bodhisattvas (菩薩 [pu sa]) who are beginners experience five fears:
1. Fear of Destitution (不活畏 [bu huo wei]): Those who practice giving (布施 [bu shi]) fear that they themselves will not be able to make a living, and thus cannot give away all their possessions.
2. Fear of Ill Repute (惡名畏 [e ming wei]): They fear having a bad reputation, and thus cannot act in harmony with the world (和光同塵 [he guang tong chen]).
3. Fear of Death (死畏 [si wei]): Although they have conceived a vast mind (resolved to achieve Buddhahood), they fear death and cannot renounce their body and life.
4. Fear of Evil Paths (惡道畏 [e dao wei]): They fear falling into unfortunate realms, and thus try to counteract unwholesome dharmas.
5. Fear of the Assembly and the Powerful (大眾咸德畏 [da zhong xian de wei]): They fear that in front of many people or people of great power and virtue, they will not be able to perform the lion's roar (獅子吼 [shi zi hou]) (i.e., boldly proclaim the Dharma).
五怖畏—【名數】初學之菩薩，有五怖畏：一、不活畏，行布施者，恐己不能過活，而不能盡所有。二、惡名畏，恐已惡名，不能為和光同塵之行。三、死畏，雖發廣大之心，然恐死而不能捨身命。四、惡道畏，恐己墮於惡道，而對治不善法。五、大眾咸德畏，恐眾多之人或威德之人，不能於其前為獅子吼。
[míng shù] chū xué zhī pú sà, yǒu wǔ bù wèi: yī,, bù huó wèi, xíng bù shī zhě, kǒng jǐ bù néng guò huó, ér bù néng jǐn suǒ yǒu. èr,, è míng wèi, kǒng yǐ è míng, bù néng wèi hé guāng tóng chén zhī xíng. sān,, sǐ wèi, suī fā guǎng dà zhī xīn, rán kǒng sǐ ér bù néng shě shēn mìng. sì,, è dào wèi, kǒng jǐ duò yú è dào, ér duì zhì bù shàn fǎ. wǔ,, dà zhòng xián dé wèi, kǒng zhòng duō zhī rén huò wēi dé zhī rén, bù néng yú qí qián wèi shī zi hǒu.
[ming shu] chu xue zhi pu sa, you wu bu wei: yi,, bu huo wei, xing bu shi zhe, kong ji bu neng guo huo, er bu neng jin suo you. er,, e ming wei, kong yi e ming, bu neng wei he guang tong chen zhi xing. san,, si wei, sui fa guang da zhi xin, ran kong si er bu neng she shen ming. si,, e dao wei, kong ji duo yu e dao, er dui zhi bu shan fa. wu,, da zhong xian de wei, kong zhong duo zhi ren huo wei de zhi ren, bu neng yu qi qian wei shi zi hou.
無怖畏 t = 无怖畏 s = wú bù wèi p refers to [phrase] “without fear; free from danger; nirbhaya”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao]; Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: nirbhaya, Tibetan: bsnyengs pa mi mnga' ba; see 無畏 [wu wei] (Mahāvyutpatti 'nirbhayaḥ'; MW 'nirbhaya') .
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Chinese-English dictionary
1) 無怖畏 [wú bù wèi] refers to: “fearlessness”.
無怖畏 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 無畏; 無畏心; 不怖; 無怖.
[Sanskrit] atrāsa.
[Tibetan] 'jigs pa dang bral ba; 'jigs pa med pa; skrag par mi byed pa.
[Vietnamese] vô bố uý.
[Korean] 무포외 / mupooe.
[Japanese] ムフイ / mufui.
2) 五怖畏 [wǔ bù wèi] refers to: “five fears [affecting bodhisattvas”.
五怖畏 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 五畏.
[Sanskrit] pañca-vibhīṣaṇa.
[Vietnamese] ngũ bố uý.
[Korean] 오포외 / o po-oe.
[Japanese] ゴフイ / go fui.
Chinese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Bu, Wei, Bu wei, Wu, Nei, Gui, Bo, Man.
Full-text (+12): Wu Wei, E dao wei, E ming wei, Ming zhong wei, Da zhong wei de wei, Si wei, 'jigs pa med pa, Bu huo wei, Wu wei xin, Li bu wei ru lai, Pi mu qu sha, Guan zhe wei ji, Da bai san gai fu mu, Wu bu, Suo yin xing guai, Bubu, Yuan fu, Yi ri ji ye, Wu ru lai, Shi ba yuan jing.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Wu bu wei, Wǔ bù wèi, Wú bù wèi, Wǔ bùwèi, Wu buwei, Wǔbùwèi, Wubuwei, Wúbùwèi, 五怖畏, 無怖畏; (plurals include: Wu bu weis, Wǔ bù wèis, Wú bù wèis, Wǔ bùwèis, Wu buweis, Wǔbùwèis, Wubuweis, Wúbùwèis, 五怖畏s, 無怖畏s). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Chapter 69: Auspicious Omens < [Part 190 - The Abhinishkramana-sutra]
Sutta 31: The Compassionate Brother and the Jealous Wife < [Part 152 - Discourse of the Collection of the Six Perfections]
Chapter 44: The Dream of Yasodhara < [Part 190 - The Abhinishkramana-sutra]
The Pursuit of Universality in Chinese Buddhism < [Volume 16, Issue 4 (2025)]
A Study of the Early-Stage Translations of Foxing佛性 in Chinese... < [Volume 13, Issue 7 (2022)]
Shinran as Global Philosopher < [Volume 13, Issue 2 (2022)]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)