cloud flying through the sky
Honganji sect (of Shin Buddhism)
source; beginning; origin
Nishi Hongan-ji (temple in Kyoto)
Jōdo Shinshū (offshoot of the Jōdo sect); True Pure Land School
mausoleum; imperial court
to make a leap into the dark; to take the plunge; to jump in at the deep end; (lit.) to jump off the stage of the Kiyomizu temple
traditional (Chinese or Japanese) dry landscape garden
travel guide (book); tourist guide
riverbed; raised platform on the bank of a river for enjoying the cool in summer
Muromachi shogunate (1336-1573)
to spend a night together
nail; spike; tack; rivet; brad; (pachinko) pin
Shinran (founder of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism, 1173-1262)
Onigashima; island of ogres (in Japanese folklore)
chocolate bar; bar of chocolate
post; quarters; military station; police station
struggle (for); scramble; contest
carrying on one's back (e.g. baby); piggybacking; (arch.) last; (arch.) end
subdivision; segmentation; fractionalization; fragmentation
Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE)
9th in rank; ninth sign of the Chinese calendar
whistling sound; wheezing sound; sound of the wind; wuthering; howling; soughing
to joke around; to do and say ridiculous things
Amida Buddha's original vow; long-cherished desire
grace (of God); divine favour; benefit; efficacy
(act of) building (temple, monument, etc.); erection
bowstring; string (of shamisen, guitar, violin, etc.); bail (arched pot handle); diagonal levelling wire across the top of a masu
pillow; bolster; introduction (e.g. to a rakugo story); lead-in
first day (e.g. at work, school); day one
heeding; paying attention; bearing in mind
various opinions; various theories; various rumors (rumours)
determined purpose; an incredibly short span of time (i.e. the time occupied by a single thought); a single repetition of a prayer (esp. in Jodo-shu)