Higan, the other shore
The word Higan is literally made up of two characters: the first hi means other, beyond, and the second gan, the shore. Therefore literally is the other shore.

It’s used to identify the Spring and Autumn equinox, meaning the passage from one shore to the other, from one season to the other and especially from one bad side to a good one: from winter to spring. In the Buddhist sense it means the passage from a condition of ignorance and illusion to one of enlightment, and therefore the achievement of enlightement.

Prof. Aldo Tollini
 Professor of classical Japanese language
Department of Oriental Studies Ca’ Foscari, University of Venice