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
古代中国の世界観では、皇帝の徳が及ばない地域を化外と呼んだ。
In the worldview of ancient China, regions beyond the reach of the emperor's virtue were called 化外.
この史料には、化外の地との交易についての記述がある。
This historical document contains descriptions of trade with lands outside imperial influence.
化内 refers to lands under imperial influence and moral transformation, the opposite of 化外.
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.