mohou

Mohou, often written in Japanese as mōhō, is a term used in East Asian Buddhist philosophy. It is commonly read as 妄法 and translated as "delusive dharma" or "deluded phenomena." The first character 妄 conveys delusion or misperception, while 法 refers to dharma, phenomena, or the law. The combination points to phenomena arising from ignorance rather than ultimate reality.

In traditional Buddhist discourse, mōhō serves to distinguish ordinary, conditioned experience—which can be mistaken or misconstrued—from the true dharma or the ultimate nature of reality. It is frequently discussed in contrast with genuine understanding, such as the true Dharma (zhen fǎ) or the realization of emptiness (śūnyatā). The term appears in both Chinese and Japanese texts, with readings including wàngfǎ in Chinese and mōhō or mōhō in Japanese.

The concept is used to critique attachment to appearances, linguistic or doctrinal constructs, and speculative views that arise from ignorance. By highlighting the illusory quality of many phenomena, mōhō encourages practitioners to look beyond conventional beliefs and to cultivate insight into the nature of reality as taught in various Mahayana and Chan/Zen traditions.

Because mōhō is a technical term primarily encountered in scholarly or religious writings, it is less common in everyday language. In English-language discussions, it is typically rendered as "deluded dharma" or "delusive phenomena" and discussed within broader topics on Buddhist doctrine and epistemology.