Imikotoba — Taboo Words
Overview
Section titled “Overview”This canonical ID (25) currently groups 6 source layers with divergent titles. Milestone-1 migration preserves every layer below without inventing a single merged narrative. Status: needs-review.
Also attested under these titles
Section titled “Also attested under these titles”- Water-and-Land Rite
- Southern Dipper Worship
- Naorai
- Kami as Protectors of Dharma
- Tamashizume and Tamafuri as Ritual Technologies
Research layers
Section titled “Research layers”Layer 1: Water-and-Land Rite
Section titled “Layer 1: Water-and-Land Rite”Source file:
01_Buddhism.md
Chinese: 水陸法會 Shuilu fahui
A vast Chinese Buddhist ritual assembly for universal salvation of beings of water and land, including the dead, hungry ghosts, gods and spirits.
Structure
Section titled “Structure”Multiple altars, invitation of sacred beings, scripture and dhāraṇī recitation, offerings, feeding, confession, deliverance rites and dismissal. Historically requires trained clergy and can run for days.
Access: clerical / temple liturgy.
Reliability: B.
Esoteric / Vajrayāna
Section titled “Esoteric / Vajrayāna”Layer 2: Southern Dipper Worship
Section titled “Layer 2: Southern Dipper Worship”Source file:
02_Daoism.md
Chinese: 南斗 Nandou
Frequently paired with the Northern Dipper in lifespan/fate traditions.
Reliability: B.
Layer 3: Naorai
Section titled “Layer 3: Naorai”Source file:
03_Shinto.md
Communal consumption of food/sake after ritual, often understood as sharing offerings and completing communion with the kami.
Reliability: A/B.
Layer 4: Kami as Protectors of Dharma
Section titled “Layer 4: Kami as Protectors of Dharma”Source file:
04_Syncretic_Japan.md
Shrine kami could be understood as guardians of Buddhist temples, scriptures and monastic communities. Conversely, Buddhist rites could pacify and elevate kami.
Reliability: A/B.
Layer 5: Tamashizume and Tamafuri as Ritual Technologies
Section titled “Layer 5: Tamashizume and Tamafuri as Ritual Technologies”Source file:
08_PRIMARY_SOURCE_PROCEDURE_UPGRADES_v1_7.md
Entry type: CONCEPTS WITH RITUAL APPLICATION
Tamashizume
Section titled “Tamashizume”Pacify and settle the spirit in the center/body.
Tamafuri
Section titled “Tamafuri”Reinvigorate a weakened/withered spirit by:
- shaking a ritual object;
- shaking/moving the body;
- in another interpretation, beckoning or bestowing an external spirit into the person.
Safe reconstruction grammar
Section titled “Safe reconstruction grammar”- Identify the actual ritual context, e.g. Chinkonsai, kagura or a sectarian Shintō lineage.
- Purify.
- Establish the person/spirit relation.
- Use the transmitted object and/or bodily movement.
- Perform the tradition’s call/settling formula.
- Stabilize the spirit rather than prolonging stimulation indefinitely.
- Close using the lineage’s norito/prayer.
Learning
Section titled “Learning”Never treat the dictionary definitions as a complete self-standing rite. Learn the actual lineage in which tamashizume/tamafuri is embedded.
Layer 6: Imikotoba — Taboo Words
Section titled “Layer 6: Imikotoba — Taboo Words”Source file:
13_FORBIDDEN_TABOO_RESTRICTED_INDEX_v2_1.md
Class: SPEECH-TABOO
During sacred service, ordinary words associated with pollution or incompatible religious worlds could be prohibited and replaced with euphemisms.
Ise “Inner Seven” Buddhist taboos
Section titled “Ise “Inner Seven” Buddhist taboos”Historical replacements are recorded for:
- Buddha;
- sūtra;
- pagoda;
- temple;
- monk;
- nun;
- Buddhist abstinence/vegetarian food.
“Outer Seven”
Section titled ““Outer Seven””Words avoided included:
- death;
- illness;
- weeping;
- blood;
- striking;
- meat;
- grave.
Practice
Section titled “Practice”- Learn the taboo vocabulary before ritual service.
- During the restricted period, avoid the prohibited word.
- Use the transmitted euphemism.
- Resume ordinary language after the ritual purity period unless the institution requires otherwise.