Matsurigoto
/ma̠t͡sɯ̟ɾʲiɡo̞to̞/noun
An archaic Japanese term for government or political administration, literally understood as matters of ritual or worship.
Did you know?In early Japanese thought, political authority was closely tied to ritual service, so governing and performing sacred rites were expressed through the same word.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Japanese
Old Japanese
matsuru
“To serve, attend upon, or worship; the verb underlying the ritual sense of matsuri.”
8th Century
Old Japanese
matsuri
“A religious rite, festival, or act of worship offered to a deity.”
8th Century
Old Japanese
koto
“A matter, affair, event, or state of things.”
8th–10th Century
Old Japanese
matsurigoto
“A compound understood as ritual affairs or sacred matters, used for the conduct of public affairs.”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
政（まつりごと）
“Government, administration, or the exercise of political authority; the word was conventionally written with the character meaning governance.”
Modern English usage
Japanese
matsurigoto
“A rare historical or cultural term for government, especially government conceived as ritual service.”