This thesis explores the concept of impurity (kegare) in Shinto and examines its role within ritual, religious, and social contexts across different historical periods. Kegare refers to a state of spiritual or symbolic defilement that disrupts the balance between humans, nature, and the divine, and which requires ritual purification. In Shinto, where purity is a core value, contact with impurity, especially death, is perceived as disturbing and dangerous. The thesis analyzes the development of this concept from mythological origins and legal codifications to institutionalized purification rites such as misogi, harae, and imi. Particular attention is given to Shinto funerals, which, despite doctrinal incompatibility with death, represent a significant exception and reveal tensions between religious doctrine and communal practice. In addition to the ritual and religious dimensions, this study also addresses the social implications of kegare. Through historical analysis, it demonstrates how the notion of impurity has served as a mechanism of social regulation, influencing the marginalization of certain groups, most notably the burakumin, historically associated with "impure" occupations. The findings show that kegare is not limited to the religious sphere but also functions as a significant cultural and social mechanism that shapes behavioral norms, group boundaries, and societal hierarchies.
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