Call for divorce - Okoe ga karirien

...As the enkiri temples became well known in the area, it was strongly felt that if a wife went to the temple, the husband would have no choice but to accept the divorce, and there were even cases where the husband only hinted at going to the enkiri temple, but did not actually go, and the divorce was finalized. If the husband still refused to submit the divorce letter, the temple would appeal to the temple and shrine magistrate's office, which would use its influence to have the husband put in temporary prison and have the letter issued (divorce by voice). Some wives who went to the temple hoping for a divorce were persuaded by the temple to return (reconciliation). ...

*Some of the terminology used in reference to "divorce by request" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…縁切寺のことが周辺に熟知されてくるにしたがって，妻に寺へ駆け込まれたら夫は離縁を承服せざるをえないと強く認識されたからであり，なかには縁切寺への駆込みをほのめかすだけで実際には駆け込まず離縁を成立させた例さえあった。夫がどうしても離縁状を出さないときは，寺では寺社奉行所に訴え，奉行所はその威光により夫を仮牢に入れても離縁状を出させた(お声掛り離縁)。離縁を願って駆け込んだ妻のなかには，寺の説得によって帰縁(復縁)することもあった。…

※「お声掛り離縁」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