Secret - Onmitsu

Japanese: 隠密 - おんみつ

〘noun〙① (adjective) (━suru) To keep something hidden. Also, the state of being so. Confidential. Secret. ※Toji Yuri Documents - From July 1334 (first year of the Kenmu era), Wakasa Tarasosho Tokizawana real name Kunihiro's deputy Nobushige's petition "Fearing my own people, even though I secretly secret these letters, at the time of the lawsuit." ※Taiheiki (late 14th century) Chapter 33 "Even though heaven has no ears, these are heard by people, so we are secretly secret from each other." ② From the end of the Middle Ages to the early modern period, a warrior in charge of gathering information. Belonging to the shogunate or various feudal domains, they engaged in espionage activities. They were called "ninja" and " spies ." [Glossary] From the end of the Muromachi period through the Edo period, ② emerged from ① while the usage of ① fell out of use. The reason for this may be that Buddhist words such as "himitsu" (secret) gradually became more common and displaced the usage of ①.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① (形動) (━する) 物事をかくしておくこと。また、そのさま。内密。秘密。※東寺百合文書‐は・建武元年（1334）七月・若狭太良荘時沢名本名主国広代行信重申状「恐自科、雖令隠蜜彼状等、時行訴訟之時」※太平記（１４Ｃ後）三三「天に耳無しといへども、是を聞くに人を以てする事なれば、互に隠密(ヲンミツ)しけれ共」② 中世の末から近世、情報収集を担当していた武士。幕府や各藩に所属し、スパイ活動をおこなった。「忍びの者」「間者(かんじゃ)」などの称がある。[語誌]室町時代末から江戸時代にかけて①から②が生じる一方で①の用法がすたれていくが、その背景には仏教語の「秘密」などが徐々に一般化し、①の用法をおかしていったことなどが考えられる。

出典　精選版日本国語大辞典精選版日本国語大辞典について　情報

<<: Onmyoji - Onmyoji // Onyoji

>>: Onmatsuri Sarugaku - Festival Sarugaku