recreation; diversion; relaxation
Refers to taking a break from work or daily routine to refresh one's mind; often implies a light, enjoyable change of pace. The word is somewhat literary and not common in everyday conversation.
Reading was his only recreation.
I went for a walk for relaxation.
The word is composed of 気 (spirit, mind) and 散じ (from 散ずる, meaning 'to scatter' or 'to disperse'), suggesting the idea of dispersing mental fatigue. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji spelling reflects this conceptual origin.