written religious oath; vow to the gods
Historical term for a formal written pledge invoking divine punishment if broken; common in medieval Japanese contexts.
Medieval warriors concluded agreements by writing a kishōmon, a written oath sworn to the gods and buddhas.
Compound of 起請 (kishō, 'swearing an oath') and 文 (mon, 'document'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with medieval Japanese legal and religious practices.