noun
temple where women could seek refuge from marriage
Historical term for a temple that offered sanctuary to women seeking to escape an unwanted marriage, particularly during the Edo period. Not a modern institution.
江戸時代には、縁切り寺に逃げ込むことで女性が離婚できた。
During the Edo period, women could obtain a divorce by fleeing to an enkiri-dera.
A broader term for a temple that offered sanctuary to anyone in need, not limited to women seeking divorce.
Compound of 縁切り (enkiri, 'severing of ties') and 寺 (tera, 'temple'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but such temples existed as a practical recourse for women in the Edo period.