expression
this impure world; the defiled land
Buddhist term contrasting the present, suffering-filled world with the Pure Land (浄土). Used in religious or philosophical contexts.
See also: 浄土
浄土宗では、穢土を離れて極楽浄土に往生することを願う。
In Jōdo-shū, one aspires to leave this impure world and be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
expression
Archaic euphemistic use, now extremely rare. The modern word is 大便 or 糞.
古い文献では、穢土が排泄物を婉曲に指すことがある。
In old texts, 穢土 can euphemistically refer to excrement.