化け外がい

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

lands outside imperial influence; uncivilized regions

Historical term from pre-modern East Asian political thought, referring to regions beyond the reach of imperial civilization and moral transformation. Often contrasted with 化内 (けない/かない), lands under imperial influence. Rare in modern Japanese outside historical or academic contexts.

See also: 化内

• 古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくの世せ界かい観かんでは、皇こう帝ていの徳とくが及およばない地ち域いきを化け外がいと呼よんだ。

  In the worldview of ancient China, regions beyond the reach of the emperor's virtue were called 化外.

• この史し料りょうには、化け外がいの地ちとの交こう易えきについての記き述じゅつがある。

  This historical document contains descriptions of trade with lands outside imperial influence.