abandonment of the elderly; historical practice of leaving old people in remote places
Refers to the legendary or historical custom of abandoning elderly people in mountains or wilderness, often due to food scarcity. Compare 棄老 (きろう).
See also: 棄老
Abandonment of the elderly is a custom said to have been practiced in poor mountain villages in the past.
This story has the theme of abandoning the elderly.
棄老 is a broader term for abandoning the elderly, while 老人遺棄 explicitly mentions 'old person' and often refers to the historical practice.
Compound of 老人 (ろうじん, 'old person') and 遺棄 (いき, 'abandonment'). The term describes a historical or legendary practice, not a modern legal concept.