Do 山人 and 仙人 have the same meaning of they mean different things?


I find that the compounds mean "mountain people" or "hermit". Do these words
have some difference in meaning or do they actually mean exactly the same?




I don't typically consider these the same words, despite similar origins.

山人 {やまびと} to me specifically refers to people living in the mountains, as
hermits or in small villages.

仙人 {せんにん} implies hermit, but actually might have a meaning closer to sage,
enlightened one, or wizard ("wizard" might be derived from Taoism).




I don't typically consider these the same words, despite similar origins.

山人 {やまびと} to me specifically refers to people living in the mountains, as
hermits or in small villages.

仙人 {せんにん} implies hermit, but actually might have a meaning closer to sage,
enlightened one, or wizard ("wizard" might be derived from Taoism).

