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斎服 (saifuku) Japanese meaning: priestly vestments | Kotomora

斎さい服ふく

さ

い

ふ

く

Meanings

1

priestly vestments; white silk robes worn at Shinto festivals

Specifically refers to the formal white silk robes worn by Shinto priests during festivals and ceremonies.

神かん主ぬしが斎さい服ふくを着きて祭まつりに臨のぞんだ。
The Shinto priest wore the priestly vestments for the festival.

Kanji

斎purification, Buddhist food, room
服clothing, admit, obey

Etymology

The kanji 斎 means 'purification' or 'religious abstinence', and 服 means 'clothing'. The term directly refers to garments worn for Shinto purification rituals.