is the Japanese term for a state of pollution and defilement, important particularly in
Shinto as a religious term. Typical causes of
kegare are the contact with any form of death, childbirth (for both parents), disease and menstruation. In Shinto
kegare is a form of
tsumi (
taboo violation), which needs to be somehow remedied by the person responsible. This condition can be remedied through purification rites called
misogi and
harae.
Kegare can have an adverse impact not only on the person directly affected, but also to the community he or she belongs to.
