noun
offerings of food to the gods
Archaic term for food offerings presented to deities in Shinto rituals. The reading ひもろぎ is more commonly associated with 神籬, a sacred space or altar, but these kanji specifically denote the food offerings themselves.
古い文献には、胙を神前に供える儀式が記されている。
Ancient texts record rituals in which offerings of food are presented before the gods.
神籬 refers to a sacred space or altar used in Shinto rituals, while 胙/膰 specifically denotes the food offerings made to the gods.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The reading ひもろぎ is ancient, and the kanji 胙 and 膰 are rare Chinese characters meaning sacrificial meat or offerings, likely assigned to this native Japanese word based on meaning.