noun
trial by boiling water; ordeal by hot water
Historical term for an ancient Japanese practice of determining guilt or innocence by having a person plunge their hand into boiling water, based on the belief that the innocent would not be scalded.
古代日本では、盟神探湯が裁判の手段として用いられた。
In ancient Japan, trial by boiling water was used as a means of judgment.
盟神探湯は、神の加護を信じる社会で行われた。
Trial by boiling water was practiced in societies that believed in divine protection.
Abbreviated kanji form; less common but still encountered.
Rarely used kanji form.
A broader term for trial by ordeal in general, not limited to the boiling water method.
The term 盟神探湯 (くかたち) is a jukujikun reading of Chinese characters meaning 'oath', 'god', 'search', and 'hot water'. The exact derivation of the reading is uncertain.