権化|ごんげgonge[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, Buddhismincarnation (of Buddha or bodhisattva); avatar
2. nounembodiment (as in "embodiment of evil"); incarnation; personification

• Synonym化身けしんNeutralNeutral word for an incarnation; it suits admirable things too, as in 「美の化身」, while 「権化」 leans derogatory, as in 「悪の権化」.
• Synonym体現たいげんNeutralTo embody an idea or trait in concrete form; applies to people, works, buildings, and is often complimentary rather than pejorative.
• Related具現ぐげんWrittenWritten word for giving concrete form to a plan or ideal; it means realization, not a person being the embodiment of a trait.
• Related現身げんしんWrittenLiterary word for one's living body of flesh in this world; it does not carry 「権化」's sense of an extreme embodiment of a trait.
• Related化現けげんWrittenRare written religious term for a god or Buddha taking on an altered form to appear in this world; not normally used figuratively of a wicked person the way 「権化」 is.

Use 「権化」 for someone who is the extreme embodiment of a trait, usually a bad one, as in 「欲の権化」. For neutral or positive embodiments say 「化身」; for embodying ideas or ideals, 「体現」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 仏ふつ・菩薩ぼさつが衆生しゅじょうを救すくうために仮かりの姿すがたになってこの世よに現あらわれること。権現ごんげん。化身けしん。
2. ある抽象的ちゅうしょうてきな特質とくしつが具体的ぐたいてきな姿すがたとして現あらわれたかのような人ひと。