noun
sacred fence; shrine fence
A fence surrounding a shrine, imperial palace, or other sacred area. Often used in poetic or literary contexts.
神社の瑞垣は神聖な領域を区切っている。
The shrine's sacred fence demarcates the holy area.
古い和歌には瑞垣がよく詠まれている。
Old waka poems often feature the sacred fence.
Alternate kanji form, less common.
The word 瑞垣 (みずがき) is composed of 瑞 (みず), meaning 'auspicious' or 'fresh', and 垣 (かき), meaning 'fence'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used since ancient times to refer to fences around sacred spaces.