放生 (fàng shēng) — to release captive animals (especially as a Buddhist practice of compassion)
Definition
The Buddhist/folk-Daoist practice of buying or freeing captive animals (fish, birds, turtles) to earn merit (积德). This is a single verb for the ritual act, not generic 'letting go'.
verb
to release captive animals (especially as a Buddhist practice of compassion)
Examples
- 放生。Fó jiào tú jīng cháng zài jié rì qù hú biān fàng shēng.Buddhists often go to the lake to release animals during festivals.
- ，。Tā jīn tiān fàng le bù shǎo shēng, yǒu yú yě yǒu niǎo.He released quite a few animals today, including fish and birds.
- 放生。fàng shēng Shì yì zhǒng jī dé de xíng wéi.Releasing animals is a virtuous act.
Appears in
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