Ke hare kegare cycle (Japanese)

In Japanese thought there is no dichotomy between the sacred and the profane. Thus the sacred festivals or matsuri consist of a cycle. They commence with self purification through removal of pollution, fasting and abstinence leading to a sacred state of [hare]

. There is then the ceremony of prayers, praise and offerings to the kami or sacred beings, but these are followed with celebrations of a more mundane nature including dancing, theatrical performances, wrestling matches and feasts. Here the matsuri returns to the [ke]

of ordinary life. When the energy of hare which has been channelled into the ke is exhausted there arises a state of kegare, or impure sacredness, defilement; the functioning of ordinary life is impaired and again a period of self purification, the hare or pure sacred events is enacted and the cycle recommenced. The sacredness of kegare is marked by the carrying out of normally impure acts; for example, shoes may well be worn indoors at funerals.