sympathetic magic; homeopathic magic; imitative magic
Anthropological term for magic based on the principle that like produces like, or that an effect resembles its cause. Often contrasted with 共感呪術 (contagious magic).
See also: 共感呪術 (きょうかんじゅじゅつ)
An example of imitative magic is the act of sprinkling water in rain-making rituals.
Frazer classified sympathetic magic into homeopathic magic and contagious magic.
共感呪術 (contagious magic) is based on the principle that things once in contact continue to act on each other, while 類感呪術 relies on similarity or imitation.
Compound of 類感 (ruikan, 'similarity; analogy') and 呪術 (jujutsu, 'magic; sorcery'). The term is a translation of the Western anthropological concept of sympathetic magic, popularized by James George Frazer.