Childbirth Memorial Service

Japanese: 産の忌 - さんのいみ

A taboo against childbirth, which is considered unclean. It is called sambi, akabi, chibuku, and various other names depending on the region. The taboo against death is called black impurity, while the taboo against childbirth is called red impurity. The taboo against childbirth is considered more severe than that against death in almost all parts of the country. The fire in the house where childbirth occurred is considered to be unclean, and in fishing villages, people do not visit the house for about seven days, as is called higakkakaru or higakamiu. It was also common to keep the fire for cooking for the woman in childbirth separate from the fire in the main house. During the period of taboo, not only the woman in childbirth but also her family members were not allowed to participate in Shinto ceremonies, and husbands who worked in fishing or the mountains did not go to work for three to seven days, but the taboo against the woman in childbirth herself was the most severe of all, and was traditionally thought to last for 75 days. After the taboo against childbirth ends, various rituals are held to celebrate the birth of a new life.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

出産を穢れとして忌に服すること。サンビ，アカビ，チブクなど地方によって種々の呼び方がある。死の忌の黒不浄に対して，産の忌を赤不浄と呼ぶ。産の忌は死の忌より重いとしているのはほとんど全国的である。産のあった家の火はけがれると考えられ，ヒガカカル，ヒガカマウなどといって，漁村などでは7日間ほどはその家に立寄らない。また家の中でも産婦の煮炊きの火と母屋の火を別にするのが一般的であった。忌の期間中は，産婦はもとよりその家族も神事に参加してはならず，漁や山仕事をする夫は3～7日間は仕事に出なかったが，産婦自身の忌はなかでも最も重く，古くは 75日と考えられていた。産の忌が明けると，新しい生命の誕生を祝うさまざまな儀礼が行われる。

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

<<: Sanno ruins - Sanno ruins

>>: Third Year - Sannenme