Wu shuai, Wǔ shuāi: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Wu shuai 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
五衰 [wu shuai]—The five signs of decay or approaching death, of which descriptions vary. e. g. uncontrolled discharges, flowers on the head wither. unpleasant odor, sweating armpits, uneasiness (or anxiety); Nirvana Sutra 19.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
五衰 [wu shuai]—Five Signs of Decay—[Term] When a deva (天人 [tian ren]) is about to die, five signs of decay (衰相 [shuai xiang]) appear. The scriptures and treatises vary in their descriptions. The Nirvana Sutra (涅槃經 [nie pan jing]) Chapter 19 states: "When Śakra (釋提桓因 [shi ti huan yin]) is about to die, five signs appear: first, their clothes become dirty and greasy (衣裳垢膩 [yi shang gou ni]); second, the flowers on their head wither (頭上花萎 [tou shang hua wei]); third, their body emits a foul odor (身體臭穢 [shen ti chou hui]); fourth, sweat appears under their armpits (腋下汗出 [ye xia han chu]); fifth, they no longer enjoy their original seat (不樂本座 [bu le ben zuo])." The Sūtra of the Collection of the Original Deeds of the Buddha (佛本行集經 [fu ben xing ji jing]) Chapter 5 states: "At that time, when the Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Hūming (護明菩薩大士 [hu ming pu sa da shi]) had reached the end of his celestial lifespan, five signs of decay naturally appeared. What are these five? First, the flowers on his head withered; second, sweat appeared under his armpits; third, his clothes became dirty and greasy; fourth, his body lost its radiance (身失威光 [shen shi wei guang]); fifth, he no longer enjoyed his original seat." The Abhidharmakośa-śāstra (俱舍論 [ju she lun]) Chapter 10 describes the major and minor five signs: "However, when devas (天子 [tian zi]) are about to die, five minor signs of decay (小衰相 [xiao shuai xiang]) first appear: first, their clothes and ornaments emit an unpleasant sound (衣服嚴具出非愛聲 [yi fu yan ju chu fei ai sheng]); second, their own radiance suddenly diminishes (自身光明忽然昧劣 [zi shen guang ming hu ran mei lie]); third, water droplets adhere to their body during bathing (於沐浴位水游著身 [yu mu yu wei shui you zhe shen]); fourth, their naturally restless disposition now becomes fixated on one place (本性囂馳 [ben xing xiao chi]，今滯一境 [jin zhi yi jing]); fifth, their eyes, originally still, now frequently blink (眼本凝寂 [yan ben ning ji]，今數瞬動 [jin shu shun dong]). The appearance of these five signs does not necessarily mean death is imminent (非定當死 [fei ding dang si]). Furthermore, five major signs of decay (大衰相 [da shuai xiang]) appear: first, clothes are stained with dust (衣染埃塵 [yi ran ai chen]); second, flower garlands wither (花鬘萎悴 [hua man wei cui]); third, sweat appears under both armpits (兩腋汗出 [liang ye han chu]); fourth, a foul odor permeates the body (臭氣入身 [chou qi ru shen]); fifth, they no longer enjoy their original seat. The appearance of these five signs definitely means death is imminent (必定當死 [bi ding dang si])."
五衰—【術語】天人將死時，現五種之衰相。經論所說不一。涅槃經十九曰：「釋提桓因，命將欲終，有五相現：一者衣裳垢膩，二者頭上花萎，三者身體臭穢，四者腋下汗出，五者不樂本座。」佛本行集經五曰：「爾時護明菩薩大士，天壽滿已，自然而有五衰相現。何等為五？一者頭上花萎，二者腋下汗出，三者衣裳垢膩，四者身失威光，五者不樂本座。」俱舍論十說大小之五相曰：「然諸天子，將命終時，先有五種小衰相現：一者衣服嚴具出非愛聲，二者自身光明忽然昧劣，三者於沐浴位水渧著身，四者本性囂馳，今滯一境，五者眼本凝寂，今數瞬動。此五相現，非定當死。復有五種大衰相現：一者衣染埃塵，二者花鬘萎悴，三者兩腋汗出，四者臭氣入身，五者不樂本座。此五相現，必定當死。
[shù yǔ] tiān rén jiāng sǐ shí, xiàn wǔ zhǒng zhī shuāi xiāng. jīng lùn suǒ shuō bù yī. niè pán jīng shí jiǔ yuē: “shì tí huán yīn, mìng jiāng yù zhōng, yǒu wǔ xiāng xiàn: yī zhě yī shang gòu nì, èr zhě tóu shàng huā wēi, sān zhě shēn tǐ chòu huì, sì zhě yè xià hàn chū, wǔ zhě bù lè běn zuò.” fú běn xíng jí jīng wǔ yuē: “ěr shí hù míng pú sà dà shì, tiān shòu mǎn yǐ, zì rán ér yǒu wǔ shuāi xiāng xiàn. hé děng wèi wǔ？ yī zhě tóu shàng huā wēi, èr zhě yè xià hàn chū, sān zhě yī shang gòu nì, sì zhě shēn shī wēi guāng, wǔ zhě bù lè běn zuò.” jù shě lùn shí shuō dà xiǎo zhī wǔ xiāng yuē: “rán zhū tiān zi, jiāng mìng zhōng shí, xiān yǒu wǔ zhǒng xiǎo shuāi xiāng xiàn: yī zhě yī fú yán jù chū fēi ài shēng, èr zhě zì shēn guāng míng hū rán mèi liè, sān zhě yú mù yù wèi shuǐ dì zhe shēn, sì zhě běn xìng xiāo chí, jīn zhì yī jìng, wǔ zhě yǎn běn níng jì, jīn shù shùn dòng. cǐ wǔ xiāng xiàn, fēi dìng dāng sǐ. fù yǒu wǔ zhǒng dà shuāi xiāng xiàn: yī zhě yī rǎn āi chén, èr zhě huā mán wēi cuì, sān zhě liǎng yè hàn chū, sì zhě chòu qì rù shēn, wǔ zhě bù lè běn zuò. cǐ wǔ xiāng xiàn, bì dìng dāng sǐ.
[shu yu] tian ren jiang si shi, xian wu zhong zhi shuai xiang. jing lun suo shuo bu yi. nie pan jing shi jiu yue: "shi ti huan yin, ming jiang yu zhong, you wu xiang xian: yi zhe yi shang gou ni, er zhe tou shang hua wei, san zhe shen ti chou hui, si zhe ye xia han chu, wu zhe bu le ben zuo." fu ben xing ji jing wu yue: "er shi hu ming pu sa da shi, tian shou man yi, zi ran er you wu shuai xiang xian. he deng wei wu? yi zhe tou shang hua wei, er zhe ye xia han chu, san zhe yi shang gou ni, si zhe shen shi wei guang, wu zhe bu le ben zuo." ju she lun shi shuo da xiao zhi wu xiang yue: "ran zhu tian zi, jiang ming zhong shi, xian you wu zhong xiao shuai xiang xian: yi zhe yi fu yan ju chu fei ai sheng, er zhe zi shen guang ming hu ran mei lie, san zhe yu mu yu wei shui di zhe shen, si zhe ben xing xiao chi, jin zhi yi jing, wu zhe yan ben ning ji, jin shu shun dong. ci wu xiang xian, fei ding dang si. fu you wu zhong da shuai xiang xian: yi zhe yi ran ai chen, er zhe hua man wei cui, san zhe liang ye han chu, si zhe chou qi ru shen, wu zhe bu le ben zuo. ci wu xiang xian, bi ding dang si.
五衰 ts = wǔ shuāi p refers to [phrase] “five signs of decline [of devas]”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao]; Notes: (Ding '五衰 [wu shuai]'; FGDB '五衰 [wu shuai]'; SH '五衰 [wu shuai]', p. 126) .
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
五衰 [wǔ shuāi] refers to: “five signs of decay”.
五衰 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 五衰相.
[Vietnamese] ngũ suy.
[Korean] 오쇠 / osoe.
[Japanese] ゴスイ / gosui.
Chinese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shuai, Wu, Lu.
Starts with: Wu shuai nao, Wu shuai xiang, Wu shuai xiang xian.
Full-text (+11): Tian ren wu shuai, Fan jie wu shuai, Tian zhong wu xiang, Shuai xiang, Wuxiang, Wu shuai xiang, Wu mei, Wu shuai xiang xian, Shuai mei, Ngu suy, Ngu suy tuong, Pham gioi ngu suy, Ye xia chu han, Zhe jing bu she, Yan mu shu shun, Shen guang hu mie, Tou shang hua wei, Yu shui zhe shen, Tian ren, Wu shuai nao.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Wu shuai, Wǔ shuāi, Wǔshuāi, Wushuai, 五衰; (plurals include: Wu shuais, Wǔ shuāis, Wǔshuāis, Wushuais). 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 11: The Bodhisattva's Descent from Tushita Heaven, Part 1 < [Part 190 - The Abhinishkramana-sutra]
Chapter 93: The Story of Yashodhara (continued) < [Part 190 - The Abhinishkramana-sutra]
The Jatakamala (Scroll 1) < [Part 160 - The Jatakamala (Garland of Birth-Stories)]
Carbon Footprint Analyses and Potential Carbon Emission Reduction in China’s... < [Volume 10, Issue 8 (2018)]
Analysis of Urban Spatial Morphology in Harbin < [Volume 16, Issue 20 (2024)]
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Sutra of the Great Vow)
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)