About
The character 禊 is structured with the ritual-associated radical 示 and the component 契, which serves both phonetic and semantic purposes, linking the term to acts of carving or contracting. Historically, this character denoted a ceremonial purification ritual conducted at water's edge, typically in spring and autumn. Over time, its meaning narrowed to refer more specifically to the spring purification festival, with the autumn observance fading in common usage, while the character's form and etymological connection to ritual and inscription remained consistent.