輪廻

• Reading: りんね
• Romaji: rinne
• Kanji breakdown: 輪 (rin) — wheel, cycle | 廻 (ne) — to revolve, to go around
• Pronunciation: /ɾin.ne/

Meaning

Samsara; the cycle of death and rebirth; reincarnation as a continuous cycle of existence driven by karma.

From Sanskrit samsara, 輪廻 (sometimes 輪廻転生) is the Buddhist and Hindu concept of the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth across different states of existence (六道 — the six realms: hells, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, demigods, gods). Liberation (解脱/nirvana) is the release from this cycle. In Japanese popular culture 輪廻転生 (reincarnation) is a common trope in fiction, anime, and games, giving the term wider popular recognition beyond religious contexts.

Examples

1. 仏教では輪廻から解脱することが修行の最終目標とされている。 In Buddhism, liberation from the cycle of rebirth is considered the ultimate goal of spiritual practice.
2. すべての生き物は善悪の行いに応じて輪廻し、次の生を得ると教えられた。 It was taught that all living beings are reborn according to their good and bad deeds and receive their next life.
3. 輪廻転生をテーマにしたアニメや小説は、若い世代にも人気がある。 Anime and novels themed around reincarnation are popular even among younger generations.

Usage Guide

Context: Buddhism, religion, philosophy, popular culture

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

From Sanskrit samsara (continuous flowing), translated into Chinese as 輪廻 — 輪 meaning 'wheel, cycle' and 廻 meaning 'to go around, to revolve'. The wheel metaphor captures the unending rotation of existence through multiple lifetimes.

Cultural Context

Era: Nara–Present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal