鬢びん削そぎ

noun

cutting sidelocks; evenly cut sidelocks (Heian-era adulthood symbol for noblewomen); coming-of-age sidelock-cutting ritual (late Muromachi to Edo period for women)

Archaic term referring to a historical practice. The first gloss describes the act of cutting the hair at the sides of the face; the second refers to the resulting hairstyle as a marker of adulthood for Heian noblewomen; the third denotes a ceremonial coming-of-age ritual for women from about 1568 to 1867.

• 平へい安あん時じ代だい、貴き族ぞくの女じょ性せいは成せい人じんのしるしとして鬢びん削そぎをした。

  In the Heian period, noblewomen had their sidelocks cut as a sign of adulthood.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの武ぶ家けでは、娘むすめの鬢びん削そぎの儀ぎ式しきが行おこなわれた。

  In samurai families of the Edo period, a ceremony of cutting the sidelocks was held for daughters.