also: かがい
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
lands outside imperial influence; uncivilized regions
Historical term from pre-modern East Asian political thought, referring to regions beyond the reach of imperial civilization and moral transformation. Often contrasted with 化内 (けない/かない), lands under imperial influence. Rare in modern Japanese outside historical or academic contexts.
See also: 化内
In the worldview of ancient China, regions beyond the reach of the emperor's virtue were called 化外.
This historical document contains descriptions of trade with lands outside imperial influence.
Historical term; the reading けがい is more common than かがい.
Alternate historical reading; less common than けがい.
From Chinese 化外 (huàwài), literally 'outside transformation', referring to regions not reached by the civilizing influence of the emperor. The term entered Japanese through classical Chinese texts and was used in historical and political contexts.