Understanding Kegare in Feudal Japan

In traditional Japan, kegare was a fundamental concept of contamination, often translated as 'bad energy' or 'bad vibes,' but with much deeper implications beyond these modern interpretations. This concept was deeply ingrained in the society and ritualized, with its roots in filth, blood, and violence. A skills similar to menstruating women, who was inherently considered 'dirty,' samurai, who practiced violence as their profession, faced a similar dilemma. A professional soldier was protected by the same fact that caused the problem. Being violent was not by choice but for duty. The constant exposure to kegare paradoxically increased the perceived nobility of the samurai's profession.

Ritual Purification After Combat

After battles, rites of purification, such as o-Misogi, were performed with water. This practice was still in use for very different purposes long after the wars had ended. These rituals were not just symbolic; they played a crucial role in restoring purity and maintaining social harmony. During the sengoku period, when kegare was less emphasized, samurai focused on winning and staying alive, as their survival was often a full-time job.

The Role of Keiri and Samurais

There were other individuals who performed ution jobs but were not considered samurai. These people were known as Keiri, which means criminal officials. These figures were clearly engaged in violent and unclean professions, yet they were not granted the same social protection as samurai. The significance of kegare varied over time and was not consistently applied to everyone equally. While samurai went through Shinto rituals to be purified after combat, many did not, and the importance of these rituals may have declined over time.

During times of war, the emphasis on kegare was less critical. Samurais' primary focus was winning and surviving, which often required continuous engagement in combat. The shift in the kegare concept, from the 9th to the 12th century, likely reflected the changing social and cultural priorities of the era.

Conclusion

The samurai were not discriminated against because of their involvement in killing due to the unique nature of their profession. They were seen as protectors and nobles rather than perpetrators of violence, and thus were exempt from the stigma of kegare. The practices of purification, such as o-Misogi, and the role of Keiri further highlight the complex and evolving nature of religious and social norms in feudal Japan.