Nun's wife - Amanyobo

…Usually, a nun would observe the precepts, shave her head, and wear a Buddhist robe, but some would become nuns while still keeping their hair. A woman who entered Buddhism while still a layperson was called an ama-nyobo, and a female novice who shaved her head was called an ama-nyudo. Some also became nuns after retiring in old age or after losing their husbands. …

*Some of the terminology that refers to "nun's wife" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…ふつうは戒律を守り，剃髪して，法衣を着るが，有髪のまま尼になることもある。在俗のまま仏道に入った女性を尼女房といい，剃髪の女性入道者を尼入道といった。また老後に隠居したり，夫と死別して尼になるものもいた。…

※「尼女房」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報