ceremonial year; year of an imperial memorial ceremony
Refers to specific years after an emperor's death when a memorial ceremony is held: the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 20th, 50th, and 100th years, and every 100 years thereafter. Often used in the compound 式年祭.
See also: 式年祭
This year marks a ceremonial year for the late emperor.
The ceremonial year memorial service was solemnly conducted.
regular shrine rebuilding and transfer of the sacred object
fixed-interval transfer ceremony
Compound of 式 (ceremony) and 年 (year). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with imperial memorial rites.