also: いかき
noun
fence around a shrine or sacred area
Archaic term for a sacred fence; now mostly encountered in historical or religious contexts.
古い神社の周りには、いがきと呼ばれる垣根が巡らされていた。
Around the old shrine, a fence called an igaki was set up.
Rarely used kanji form.
Alternate reading; less common than いがき.
玉垣 is a more common term for a shrine fence, while いがき is archaic and specifically denotes a sacred enclosure.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 斎 and 忌 relate to purification and sacredness, reflecting the fence's ritual function.