Preceptor - Sendatsu

Japanese: 先達 - せんだつ

〘noun〙① To be the first to reach a certain path in learning, art, training, etc. and to lead others. Also, the person. A senior. Sendachi. ※Shichu Gunyo (1071 or so) 1 ``The first consultation with the chamberlain, <abbreviated> The chamberlain _{_opens} the document and attaches it briefly, <abbreviated> The chamberlain follows the _manner of _{the chamberlain} , _{and eats} it.'' ※Yonezawa Honshasekishu (1283) 10th end ``The matters of the leaders (sendatsu) of various sects in the Middle Ages are recorded in the chronicles.'' [Book of the Later Han - Zhu Hui Biography] ② To lead other practitioners, especially in Shugendo. Also, the person. An accomplished mountain ascetic who leads the accompanying Shugendo practitioners when entering mountain peaks, etc. Sendachi. ※Gonijo Michimichi-ki, November 11, 1090 (Kanji 4), “The case, _etc .: The _misdeeds of the Kumano guide.” ※Ukiyo-zoshi, Koshoku Ichidai Otoko (1682), 2 “A man named Dairakuin, a mountain priest in the upper region, was a guide (sentasu) and entered the mountain.” ③ In general, to guide. Also, that person. Guide. Leader. Sendachi. ※Azuma Kagami, September 20, 1180 (Jisho 4), “As early as possible, _Hojo -dono _became _a _guide , and _{_he} _came to the _Kise Riverside.” ※Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Tsurezuregusa) (around 1331), 52 “It is desirable to have a guide even for small matters.” [Glossary] (1) As a Chinese word, it means ①, but from the late Heian period onwards, as Shugendo became more popular, it came to be widely used to mean ②.
(2) Regarding the reading, the old dictionary "Iroha Jiruisho" has it as "sen-tatsu", but in the Middle Ages, some dictionaries had it as "sen-dachi" reflecting the variation in the writing of the syllable ending of the character "達" (Gegakushu, Bunmeihon Setsuyoshu, Ikyoshu, Manjuyahon Setsuyoshu, etc.), some had it as "sen-datsu" (Meiohon Setsuyoshu, Tenshohon Setsuyoshu, Kurohon Setsuyoshu, Eirinhon Setsuyoshu, etc.), and some had both (Nippo Jisho). However, after the Edo period, it was gradually unified as "sen-datsu".

Sen-dachi [Guide]

〘Noun〙① = sendatsu (guide) ① ※Kontemutsumunchi (1610) 3 "You must not have become a sendatsu and taught me." ② = sendatsu (guide) ② ※Nakanoin Honheike (early 13th century) 1 "When he was traveling from Anotsu in Ise Province to Kumano by boat, a large sea bass jumped into the boat and the people there said, 'Sendatsu ( guide )' ③ = sendatsu (guide) ③ ※Otogi-zoshi, Shuten-doji (late Muromachi period) "These three old men have taken their wives and children, so we must ask for their permission to be sendatsu."

Sen-datte [sendai]

〘 noun 〙 The not-too-distant past. Recently. The other day. The other day. A little while ago. ※A letter from Motoori Norinaga to Tsudo Juntada - May 16, 1758 (8th year of the Horeki era) "I have already sent you my reply twice."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 学問・技芸・修行などで、先にその道に達し、他を導くこと。また、その人。先輩。せんだち。※侍中群要（1071か）一「蔵人初参事〈略〉先達蔵人開_レ簡テ付_レ簡了〈略〉随_二先達気色_一、食_レ之了」※米沢本沙石集（1283）一〇末「中古の諸宗の先達(センダツ)の事は伝にのせたり」〔後漢書‐朱暉伝〕② 特に修験道で、他の修行者を導くこと。また、その人。峰入りなどの時に、同行の修験者の先導となる熟達した山伏。せんだち。※後二条師通記‐寛治四年（1090）一一月一一日「件文等号_二熊野先達悪事_一」※浮世草子・好色一代男（1682）二「㝡上の山伏大楽院といふ人先達(センタツ)して峯入とて」③ 一般に、案内すること。また、その人。案内者。指導者。せんだち。※吾妻鏡‐治承四年（1180）九月二〇日「早以_二北条殿_一為_二先達_一、可_レ被_レ来_二向黄瀬河辺_一之旨」※徒然草（1331頃）五二「すこしのことにも、先達はあらまほしき事なり」[語誌](1)漢語としては、①の意であるが、平安時代後期以降、修験道が盛んになるにつれ、②の意で広く使用されるようになった。
(2)読みについて、古辞書の類では「色葉字類抄」には「センタツ」とあるが、中世には、「達」字の入声韻尾の表記の揺れを反映して「センダチ」とあるもの（「下学集」「文明本節用集」「伊京集」「饅頭屋本節用集」など）や、「センダツ」とあるもの（「明応本節用集」「天正本節用集」「黒本本節用集」「易林本節用集」など）、両者を挙げるもの（「日葡辞書」）など様々である。しかし江戸時代以後は、次第に「センダツ」に統一されるようになった。

せん‐だち【先達】

〘名〙① ＝せんだつ（先達）①※こんてむつすむん地（1610）三「御身せんだちとなりたまひてをしへたまはずは」② ＝せんだつ（先達）②※中院本平家（１３Ｃ前）一「伊勢国安濃津(あののつ)より舟にて熊野へ参られけるに、大なる鱸の舟へ踊り入りたりけるを、せんたち申けるは」③ ＝せんだつ（先達）③※御伽草子・酒呑童子（室町末）「此三人の翁こそ妻子をとられて候へば、ぜひせんだちを申べし」