Cutting ties - Enkiri

Japanese: 縁切 - えんきり

Enkiri refers to human relationships in general, such as those between parents and children, husband and wife, and master and servant, and refers to cutting these relationships, especially those between men and women. When cutting ties between husband and wife and other men and women, prayers were generally made to gods, Buddhas, trees, stones, etc. Famous Enkiri Inari, Enkiri Jizo, Enkiri Yakushi, Enkiri Enoki, and Enkiri Stones are found all over the country. Enoki is known as a tree of isolation (or ties), perhaps because the word sounds similar to "en-ki," and it was believed that peeling the bark of this tree and secretly giving it to the other person would be effective. It was also common to offer votive plaques of a man and woman facing back to back when making prayers.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

親子，夫婦，主従など広く人間関係一般を縁といい，これを切ること，ことに男女の縁を切ることをいう。夫婦その他男女の縁をたち切るための縁切は，一般に神仏，樹木，石などに祈願することが多かった。有名な縁切稲荷，縁切地蔵，縁切薬師，縁切榎，縁切石などが各地にある。榎は縁の木と語呂が通じるためか絶縁(または結縁)の木として知られ，この木の皮をはいでひそかに相手に飲ませると効き目があるとされた。また祈願に際し男女背中合せの絵馬を供えることもあった。

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

<<: Divorce temple - Enkiridera

>>: Banquet Excerpts