触しょく穢え

noun

ritual impurity from death or blood

Archaic term from Shinto and pre-modern Japanese culture, referring to a state of uncleanliness caused by contact with death, childbirth, menstruation, etc. Not used in modern everyday language.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、死しや出しゅっ産さんに触ふれることを「触しょく穢え」と呼よんだ。

  In old texts, contact with death or childbirth was called 'shokue' (ritual impurity).