ritual pre-battle killing; blood offering to raise morale
Historical term for killing an enemy soldier before battle as a morale-boosting ritual. Rare in modern usage outside historical or figurative contexts.
In the Warring States period, there was a custom of performing a blood offering before battle.
bloodbath; violent killing
Figurative extension of the ritual sense, used for any scene of brutal killing or carnage. Often appears in dramatic or literary descriptions.
The conflict turned into a bloodbath, with many casualties.
Humorous slang likening menstruation to a blood ritual. Used casually among close friends; can be considered crude.
"The blood festival has started again this month," she joked.
Compound of 血 (blood) and 祭り (festival). The historical derivation is uncertain; the word likely originated from pre-battle rituals involving bloodshed.