also: ぼくてい
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
deciding through tortoise-shell divination
Historical term referring to the ancient Chinese/Japanese practice of determining a course of action by interpreting cracks on heated tortoise shells. Rare in modern usage; mainly encountered in historical or religious contexts.
古代中国では、重要な政策を卜定によって決めることがあった。
In ancient China, important policies were sometimes decided through tortoise-shell divination.
卜定の儀式は神聖なものとされていた。
The ritual of deciding by tortoise-shell divination was considered sacred.