汗かん青せい

noun

written history; historical record

Archaic literary term for written history or historical records, derived from the practice of scraping sweat off bamboo slips before writing. Not used in modern everyday Japanese.

• 「汗かん青せい」は、昔むかしの中ちゅう国ごくで竹ちく簡かんに文も字じを記しるす前まえに汗あせをぬぐったことに由ゆ来らいする言こと葉ばだ。

  The word 汗青 comes from the old Chinese practice of wiping sweat off bamboo slips before writing on them.