禊(みそぎ)

みそぎ
noun
purification ritual, ritual cleansing
1. purification ritual, ritual cleansing
A Shinto purification rite involving bathing in cold water, such as a river, waterfall, or the sea, to wash away impurity and sin.
滝(たき)に打(う)たれて禊(みそぎ)をする。
Perform a purification ritual by standing under a waterfall.
新年(しんねん)に海(うみ)で禊(みそぎ)を行(おこな)う神社(じんじゃ)もある。
Some shrines perform purification rituals in the sea at New Year.
古事記(こじき)では、イザナギが黄泉(よみ)の国(くに)から戻(もど)った後(あと)に禊(みそぎ)を行(おこな)ったとされる。
In the Kojiki, Izanagi is said to have performed a purification ritual after returning from the land of the dead.
2. atonement, making amends
Figuratively, the act of atoning for wrongdoing or scandal, especially by a public figure. Often used in politics to describe winning an election after a scandal as proof of public forgiveness.
選挙(せんきょ)で禊(みそぎ)を済(す)ませたと言(い)われている。
It is said that he has atoned for his actions by winning the election.
不祥事(ふしょうじ)を起(お)こした議員(ぎいん)が、禊(みそぎ)を済(す)ませたとして復帰(ふっき)した。
The politician who caused the scandal made a comeback, claiming he had atoned for his actions.
謹慎(きんしん)期間(きかん)を経(へ)て復帰(ふっき)したが、まだ禊(みそぎ)が済(す)んでいないという声(こえ)も多(おお)い。
He returned after a period of suspension, but many say he hasn't yet fully atoned.

Cultural note

Originally a Shinto practice of purifying oneself by bathing in natural water. The mythological origin is the story of Izanagi purifying himself after visiting the underworld, as told in the Kojiki. Today the figurative sense (atonement after scandal) is very common in political journalism.

Common patterns

Related Words

Compare: 滝行(たきぎょう) (waterfall meditation)
general
Added 2026.2.27 14:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13836_misogi