禊
ancient lustration ritual; riverside purification ceremony
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
ancient lustration ritual held by waterside in spring and autumn for purification
archaicSpecifically refers to the ancient Chinese purification ceremony performed near water in the third lunar month (spring) and ninth month (autumn). The most famous historical example is the 'Lanting Gathering' (兰亭集会) in 353 CE where Wang Xizhi composed the 'Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion'. Also known as 祓禊 (fúxì) or 修禊 (xiūxì).
Wang Xizhi's 'Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion' describes the lustration ceremony held in late spring of the ninth year of the Yonghe era.
In ancient times, people held the lustration ritual on the third day of the third lunar month to dispel misfortune.
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This type of sacrificial ritual involving bathing by the water to wash away calamity was called 'xì'.