three banishment punishments; three degrees of exile
Historical term from the ritsuryō system. Refers to three grades of banishment: 遠流 (far exile), 中流 (middle exile), and 近流 (near exile).
Under the ritsuryō system, the three banishments referred to far exile, middle exile, and near exile.
From 三 (three) + 流 (exile, banishment). A technical term from the ritsuryō legal codes.