方違え

かたたがえ

Meanings

1. Noun setting off the night before one normally would have departed, travelling in a different direction, spending the night there, and leaving for one's destination in the morning (done to avoid travelling in an unlucky direction; a common practice during the Heian period) See also: 方塞がり (かたふたがり). See also: 方違へ所 (かたたがえどころ).

Kanji

• 方 direction. Read as かた.
• 違 differ. Read as たがえる.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists