Page "Shinto" Paragraph 73

Another form of ritual cleanliness is avoidance, which means that a taboo is placed upon certain persons or acts.

To illustrate, one would not visit a shrine if a close relative in the household had died recently.

Killing is generally unclean and is to be avoided.

When one is performing acts that harm the land or other living things, prayers and rituals are performed to placate the Kami of the area.

This type of cleanliness is usually performed to prevent ill outcomes.