noun
striking sparks; spark-making fire
Refers to the act of striking sparks using flint and steel or by rubbing sticks together, typically to start a fire. Also denotes the fire or sparks produced this way. Often associated with traditional fire-starting methods.
See also: 鑽る
昔の人は切り火で火を起こした。
People in the old days started fires by striking sparks.
切り火の火花が暗闇に散った。
Sparks from the flint and steel scattered in the darkness.
noun
purification by spark-striking
A ritual in which sparks are struck in the direction of a person, often for purification or to bring good luck. Common in traditional ceremonies and folk practices.
祭りで神主が参拝者に切り火を切った。
At the festival, the priest struck sparks toward the worshippers for purification.
Variant character 鑚 for 鑽; extremely rare.
Okurigana variant of 鑚火; extremely rare.
Compound of 切り (stem of 切る, 'to strike' in this context) and 火 (fire). The kanji 鑽 is used in classical contexts for fire-making by friction.