About
The character "祓" originates from ancient ritual practices, with its structure comprising the semantic radical "礻", derived from "示" and denoting matters related to spirits or worship, alongside the component "犮", which historically served a phonetic function. Initially referring specifically to ceremonial acts performed to cleanse away evil influences or ill fortune, the term's meaning expanded over time to include more general notions of purification or elimination in both literal and metaphorical senses.
Etymology Hide
