Shingon

noun

Shin·​gon ˈshin-ˌgän How to pronounce Shingon (audio)
ˈshēn-
: an esoteric Japanese Buddhist sect claiming the achievement of Buddhahood in this life through prescribed rituals

Examples of Shingon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Koyasan, Wakayama When to see fall foliage: late October to early November The home of Shingon Buddhism since the 800s, the sacred mountaintop town of Koya (or Koyasan) is magical when its temples and gardens—some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites—are accented by colorful gingko and maples. Rob Goss, AFAR Media, 26 Aug. 2025 Lahaina United Methodist Church, Lahaina Shingon Mission and Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, among others, are believed to be destroyed. Mitch Smith, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Shingon was in 1727

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Cite this Entry

“Shingon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shingon. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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