Evil Release - Ashiharae

...It generally refers to the act of purification by shaking off dust and dirt with a paper or hemp purification mat, but it can also involve the imposition of an object of penance (haraetsumono) as a punishment for a particular sin or mistake, or the method of purifying oneself with water as misogiharai (misogi). Purifying the body and mind in a Shinto ritual is called yoshiharae, imposing a penalty is called ashiharae, and a great purification ritual is performed on the last day of June and December, and in the event of a major disaster. [Minoru Sonoda]...

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "evil release" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…一般に塵や埃を拭き払うように紙や麻の祓麻（はらいぬさ）で振り払う清めの所作をいうが，とくに罪や過ちに対する制裁として償い物(祓柱（はらえつもの）)を科すこともあり，また禊祓（みそぎはらい）(禊)として水で身を清める方法を伴う場合もある。神事にあたって身心を清めるのを吉解除（よしはらえ），刑罰を科すことを悪解除（あしはらえ）とし，また6月と12月の晦日と大災厄の際とに大祓（おおはらえ）を執行する。【薗田 稔】。…

※「悪解除」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報