noun
one's last caution; dying admonition
A formal, somewhat literary term for a warning or instruction left by someone before death. Often used in historical or solemn contexts.
父の遺戒を守って生きてきた。
I have lived by my father's dying admonition.
遺戒に従い、争いを避けた。
Following the last caution, they avoided conflict.
遺言 is a will or testament, usually concerning legal or practical matters, while 遺戒 is specifically a cautionary or moral instruction left before death.
Composed of 遺 (leave behind) and 戒 (admonish, caution). The variant 遺誡 uses an older character for 'admonish'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound is conventionally associated with a final warning or instruction.