noun
protective sorcery ceremony for a noble's journey
Historical esoteric ritual performed by an onmyōji or sorcerer to ward off evil during a noble's departure. Highly domain-specific to pre-modern Japanese court and religious practice.
See also: 禹歩
平安時代、貴族が旅立つ前には反閇の儀式が行われた。
In the Heian period, the henbai ceremony was performed before a noble set out on a journey.
noun
dance steps derived from the henbai ceremony
Refers to stylized foot movements or dance patterns inspired by the original ritual, often seen in traditional performing arts or folk practices. The connection to the original protective magic is historical.
この舞踊には反閇に由来する足の運びが見られる。
In this dance, one can see footwork derived from the henbai ritual.
禹歩 is a related Daoist ritual walking step, sometimes compared to henbai, but henbai is specifically the Japanese protective ceremony for a noble's departure.
The term is of Chinese origin, related to Daoist ritual practices. The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 反閇 suggest 'turning back' and 'closing/blocking', fitting the protective function.