This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

Word

祓い

はらい、はらえ
purification; exorcism
Word

大祓

大祓え、大祓い
おおはらえ、おおはらい
great purification; purification rite performed twice a year, before daijôsai and after major disasters
Word

祓う

はらう
to exorcise; to cleanse; to purify
Word

御祓い

お祓い、御秡い
おはらい
exorcism rite; purification
Word

夏越の祓

夏越しの祓、名越しの祓
なごしのはらえ
summer purification rites (held at shrines on the last day of the 6th lunar month)
Word

修祓

しゅばつ、しゅうばつ、しゅうふつ
purification rite (esp. one held prior to a Shinto event)
Word

払い清める

祓い清める
v1
vt
はらいきよめる
to purify; to exorcise
Word

祓殿

はらえどの、はらいどの、はらいでん
purification hall of a Shinto shrine
Word

祓串

はらえぐし
tamagushi used at Ise Shrine's purification ceremonies
Word

祓詞

はらえことば
words read by the priest in a Shinto purification rite