Originally a Sanskrit translation (gṛhapati, householder) for Buddhist laypeople who take refuge in the Three Jewels (三皈依) without becoming monks. Many classical poets adopted 居士 as a literary epithet — 李白 was 青莲居士, 苏轼 was 东坡居士.
culture
Today 居士 is mostly heard in Buddhist contexts (at temples, in dharma talks). Female practitioners can also be called 女居士.
