外法

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
外	法
げ Grade: 2	ほう Grade: 4
goon	on’yomi

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 外法 (MC ngwajH pjop). Literally "outer ways", in reference to the methods or principles of those outside of the Buddhist community. First cited in Japanese to roughly 1120.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) げほー [gèhóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɡe̞ho̞ː]

Noun

外(げ)法(ほう) • (gehō) ^{←げほふ (gefofu)?}

1. [from 1120] (Buddhism) non-Buddhist teachings (from the perspective of Buddhist thought),

   Antonym: 内法 (naihō, “Buddhist teachings”, literally “inner ways”)

   Coordinate terms: 外道 (gedō, referring specifically to tīrthika or non-Buddhism, literally “outer ways”), 外術 (gejutsu, referring to witchcraft, magic, illusion, literally “outer practices”), 魔法 (mahō, “magic, sorcery”)

2. [from early 1200s] practices involving tengu and witchcraft

   Coordinate terms: 天狗 (tengu), 外法様 (Gehō-sama, epithet for Tengu), 妖術 (yōjutsu, “witchcraft”)

3. [from 1778] short for 外法頭 (gehō atama, literally “outer-ways head”): a skull used for divination and witchcraft
4. [from 1801] (historical) short for 外法下駄 (gehō geta): a type of geta popular in the early Edo period, with a footbed made of paulownia wood and teeth made of oak (possibly so named due to the surname of the first seller of this kind of geta)
5. [from 1499] short for 外法頭 (gehō atama, literally “outer-ways head”) alternative name for 福禄寿 (Fukurokuju), one of the Seven Lucky Gods (so named for his elongated forehead)

Derived terms

• 外法頭(げほうあたま) (gehō atama): a skull used for divination and witchcraft
• 外法下駄(げほうげた) (gehō geta): a type of geta popular in the early Edo period, with a footbed made of paulownia wood and teeth made of oak
• 外法様(げほうさま) (Gehō-sama): an epithet for Tengu
• 外法箱(げほうばこ) (gehōbako): a box used by practitioners of tengu-related witchcraft to hold their paraphernalia

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
外	法
そと Grade: 2	のり Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Compound of 外 (soto, “outer, outside”) +‎ 法 (nori, “measurement”).

First cited in 1717.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) そとのり [sòtónórí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [so̞to̞no̞ɾʲi]

Noun

外(そと)法(のり) • (sotonori) 

1. [from 1717] the outer dimensions or measurement of something

   Antonym: 内法 (uchinori, “inner dimensions or measurement of something”)