Kōkyū (後宮) is the section of a Japanese Imperial Palace called the Dairi (内裏) where the Imperial Family and court ladies lived.[1]
Many cultured women gathered as wives of Emperors, and court ladies, as well as the maids for these women; court officials often visited these women for influence, literary charm, or romances. Significant contributions to the literature of Japan were created in the Kōkyū during this period: works such as The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon, and many anthologies of waka poems.
The term "Dairi" refers not only to the buildings in which the Japanese Imperial family resided; it also refers indirectly to the women of the Imperial family (the Kōkyū), to the Imperial court of Japan, or as an indirect (now archaic) way of referring to the Emperor himself.
The "Dairi" -- schematic plan of the Heian-kyō "Inner Palace" within the "Greater Palace" of the Imperial compound in Kyoto
The "Dai-Dairi" -- schematic plan of the "Greater Palace" within the Imperial complex of official structures and kuge residences
The names of the several gates in the walls surrounding the Imperial grounds refer not only to the specific wall-openings themselves; these names were also used to refer indirectly to a nearby residence of an empress whose husband had abdicated, or as an indirect way of referring to the Empress Dowager herself, e.g., Empress Dowager Kenrei (建礼門院,, Kenrei-mon-In), whose official home, after the abdication and death of Emperor Takakura, was located near the Kenrei Gate.
In this same way, the term kōkyū has multiple meanings, referring to the group of buildings situated near the sovereign's personal apartments where the consorts resided, and also describing the staff of female palace officials assigned to the service of those consorts. More broadly, the term kōkyū could be used in identifying the array of consorts below the empress.[2]
The structure of the royal household and ranks for court ladies were defined in Taihō Code and Yōrō Code. In these Codes, there were originally to have been twelve sections, and the various ranks for ladies' of the Imperial household within the Kōkyū were defined.
Fine distinctions were collapsed or expanded in a gradual re-organization which became formalized during the Heian period. For example, in 806, Emperor Heizei elevated the former Fujiwara no Tarashiko (藤原帯子) (?-794), also known as Taishi, by giving her the Imperial title of Kōgō or empress. This occurred 12 years after her death, and it became the first time this posthumously elevated rank was bestowed.[3]
Many of the court ranks which were not defined in either the Taihō or Yōrō Codes have been in continuous use in the centuries following the early Heian period.
Imperial Wives and Imperial Women's Titles
Emperor's Wives
1 Empress (Kōgō; 皇后): also called Kōkōgō (皇后宮).[4]
1 Empress Consort (Chūgū; 中宮): Originally this word meant the Palace where the Empress Consort lived. Since Emperor Ichijō had two Empress Consorts, one of his Empress Consorts was called this word.
2 Consorts (Hi; 妃): Collapsed since the Heian period. Princesses could be appointed.
3 Madames (Fujin; 夫人): Collapsed since the Heian period.
4 Beauties (Hin; 嬪): Collapsed since the Heian period.
Court Ladies (Nyōgo; 女御): Not defined in Codes. Daughters of Ministers could be appointed.
Court Attendant (Koui; 更衣): Not defined in Codes.
Other Imperial Women
1 Empress Dowager (Kōtaigō; 皇太后): Empress Mother (including mother-in-law of Emperor), Empress Dowager, or the former Empress Consort; also called Kōtaikōgō (皇太皇后).[4]
1 Grand Empress Dowager (Tai-Kōtaigō; 太皇太后): the former Empress Dowager, also called Tai-Kōtaikōgō (太皇太皇后).[4]
Ju-Sangū/Ju-Sangō (准三宮/准三后): Kōgō, Kōtaigō, and Tai-Kōtaigō are called Sangū/Sangō (三宮/三后). Ju-Sangū/Ju-Sangō means quasi-Sangū/Sangō. Ju-Sangū/Ju-Sangō got the subequal treatment with Sangū/Sangō. Consorts and princesses, as well as Ministers or high-ranking monks, became Ju-Sangū/Ju-Sangō.
Nyoin/Nyōin (女院): Wives of the former Emperors or princesses who could receive the same treatment as Daijō Tennō (In, 院).
Court Ladies
Kōkyū Jūni-Shi (後宮十二司)
Naishi-no-Tsukasa (内侍司) got involved Imperial ceremonies and communication between Emperor and court officials. They also keep Ummei-den (温明殿) called Naishi-dokoro (内侍所) where the sacred mirror (神鏡) was enshrined.[2]
Naishi-no-Kami (尚侍) (2 people): Head of Naishi-no-Tsukasa. Usually daughters of Ministers could be appointed. Some of them were the concubines of Emperor, or wives of Crown Prince.[2]
Naishi-no-Suke (典侍) (4 people): Usually daughters of Dainagon and Chūnagon could be appointed. Some of them were the concubines of Emperor. The nurses of Emperors were also appointed.[2]
Uneme (采女): Lower-grade court lady from countries.
Ministry of the Imperial Household
The Imperial court hierarchy during the Asuka, Nara and Heian periods encompassed a Ministry of the Imperial Household (宮内省,, Kunai-shō).[5] The origin of the current Imperial Household Agency can be traced back to the provisions on the government structure which were put into effect during the reign of Emperor Monmu.[6] There were specific Daijō-kan officials within this ministry structure whose attention was focused primarily on the women of the Imperial household. These were:
Female physician (女医博士,, Nyo'i hakase). No male physician would be permitted to care for the health of the emperor's women.[7]
Senior equerry or chamberlain for the women of the Emperor's household (采女正,, Uneme no kami).[8]
First assistant equerry for the women of the Emperor's household (采女佑,, Uneme no jō).[8]
Alternate equerries for the women of the Emperor's household (采女令史,, Uneme no sakan).[8]
^Lebra, Taikie. (1995). Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility, p. 218; Shirane, Haruo et al. (2000). Inventing the Classics: Modernity, National Identity, and Japanese Literature, p. 113.
Shirane, Haruo and Tomi Suzuki. (2000). Inventing the Classics: Modernity, National Identity, and Japanese Literature. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN0-8047-4105-0
kōkyū, 後宮, section, japanese, imperial, palace, called, dairi, 内裏, where, imperial, family, court, ladies, lived, many, cultured, women, gathered, wives, emperors, court, ladies, well, maids, these, women, court, officials, often, visited, these, women, influe. Kōkyu 後宮 is the section of a Japanese Imperial Palace called the Dairi 内裏 where the Imperial Family and court ladies lived 1 Many cultured women gathered as wives of Emperors and court ladies as well as the maids for these women court officials often visited these women for influence literary charm or romances Significant contributions to the literature of Japan were created in the Kōkyu during this period works such as The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon and many anthologies of waka poems Contents 1 Conflated definitions 2 Structure 2 1 Imperial Wives and Imperial Women s Titles 2 2 Court Ladies 3 Ministry of the Imperial Household 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesConflated definitions EditThe term Dairi refers not only to the buildings in which the Japanese Imperial family resided it also refers indirectly to the women of the Imperial family the Kōkyu to the Imperial court of Japan or as an indirect now archaic way of referring to the Emperor himself The Dairi schematic plan of the Heian kyō Inner Palace within the Greater Palace of the Imperial compound in Kyoto The Dai Dairi schematic plan of the Greater Palace within the Imperial complex of official structures and kuge residences The names of the several gates in the walls surrounding the Imperial grounds refer not only to the specific wall openings themselves these names were also used to refer indirectly to a nearby residence of an empress whose husband had abdicated or as an indirect way of referring to the Empress Dowager herself e g Empress Dowager Kenrei 建礼門院 Kenrei mon In whose official home after the abdication and death of Emperor Takakura was located near the Kenrei Gate In this same way the term kōkyu has multiple meanings referring to the group of buildings situated near the sovereign s personal apartments where the consorts resided and also describing the staff of female palace officials assigned to the service of those consorts More broadly the term kōkyu could be used in identifying the array of consorts below the empress 2 Structure EditPremodern Japan Part of a series on the politics andgovernment of Japan during theNara and Heian periodsDaijō kan Council of State Chancellor Chief MinisterDaijō daijinMinister of the LeftSadaijinMinister of the RightUdaijinMinister of the CenterNaidaijinMajor CounselorDainagonMiddle CounselorChunagonMinor CounselorShōnagonEight MinistriesCenterNakatsukasa shō CeremonialShikibu shōCivil AdministrationJibu shōPopular AffairsMinbu shōWarHyōbu shōJusticeGyōbu shōTreasuryŌkura shōImperial HouseholdKunai shōvteThe structure of the royal household and ranks for court ladies were defined in Taihō Code and Yōrō Code In these Codes there were originally to have been twelve sections and the various ranks for ladies of the Imperial household within the Kōkyu were defined Fine distinctions were collapsed or expanded in a gradual re organization which became formalized during the Heian period For example in 806 Emperor Heizei elevated the former Fujiwara no Tarashiko 藤原帯子 794 also known as Taishi by giving her the Imperial title of Kōgō or empress This occurred 12 years after her death and it became the first time this posthumously elevated rank was bestowed 3 Many of the court ranks which were not defined in either the Taihō or Yōrō Codes have been in continuous use in the centuries following the early Heian period Imperial Wives and Imperial Women s Titles Edit Emperor s Wives 1 Empress Kōgō 皇后 also called Kōkōgō 皇后宮 4 1 Empress Consort Chugu 中宮 Originally this word meant the Palace where the Empress Consort lived Since Emperor Ichijō had two Empress Consorts one of his Empress Consorts was called this word 2 Consorts Hi 妃 Collapsed since the Heian period Princesses could be appointed 3 Madames Fujin 夫人 Collapsed since the Heian period 4 Beauties Hin 嬪 Collapsed since the Heian period Court Ladies Nyōgo 女御 Not defined in Codes Daughters of Ministers could be appointed Court Attendant Koui 更衣 Not defined in Codes Other Imperial Women 1 Empress Dowager Kōtaigō 皇太后 Empress Mother including mother in law of Emperor Empress Dowager or the former Empress Consort also called Kōtaikōgō 皇太皇后 4 1 Grand Empress Dowager Tai Kōtaigō 太皇太后 the former Empress Dowager also called Tai Kōtaikōgō 太皇太皇后 4 Ju Sangu Ju Sangō 准三宮 准三后 Kōgō Kōtaigō and Tai Kōtaigō are called Sangu Sangō 三宮 三后 Ju Sangu Ju Sangō means quasi Sangu Sangō Ju Sangu Ju Sangō got the subequal treatment with Sangu Sangō Consorts and princesses as well as Ministers or high ranking monks became Ju Sangu Ju Sangō Nyoin Nyōin 女院 Wives of the former Emperors or princesses who could receive the same treatment as Daijō Tennō In 院 Court Ladies Edit Kōkyu Juni Shi 後宮十二司 Naishi no Tsukasa 内侍司 got involved Imperial ceremonies and communication between Emperor and court officials They also keep Ummei den 温明殿 called Naishi dokoro 内侍所 where the sacred mirror 神鏡 was enshrined 2 Naishi no Kami 尚侍 2 people Head of Naishi no Tsukasa Usually daughters of Ministers could be appointed Some of them were the concubines of Emperor or wives of Crown Prince 2 Naishi no Suke 典侍 4 people Usually daughters of Dainagon and Chunagon could be appointed Some of them were the concubines of Emperor The nurses of Emperors were also appointed 2 Naishi no Jō Naishi 掌侍 内侍 4 people 2 The following 11 sections were collapsed in the early Heian period Kura no Tsukasa 蔵司 treated Imperial treasures Fumi no Tsukasa 書司 treated literary tool and books Kusuri no Tsukasa 薬司 treated medicine Tsuwamono no Tsukasa 兵司 treated arms Mikado no Tsukasa 闈司 got involved opening and closing the gates Tonomori no Tsukasa 殿司 treated fuel Kanimori no Tsukasa 掃司 got involved cleaning Moitori no Tsukasa 水司 treated water and rice gruel Kashiwade no Tsukasa 膳司 treated meals Sake no Tsukasa 酒司 treated liquor Nui no Tsukasa 縫司 treated clothes Other Titles Mikushige dono no Bettō 御匣殿別当 Head of Mikushige dono where clothes of Emperor were treated Some of them were the concubines of Emperor Nyo kurōdo 女蔵人 got involved Imperial ceremonies Uneme 采女 Lower grade court lady from countries Ministry of the Imperial Household EditThe Imperial court hierarchy during the Asuka Nara and Heian periods encompassed a Ministry of the Imperial Household 宮内省 Kunai shō 5 The origin of the current Imperial Household Agency can be traced back to the provisions on the government structure which were put into effect during the reign of Emperor Monmu 6 There were specific Daijō kan officials within this ministry structure whose attention was focused primarily on the women of the Imperial household These were Female physician 女医博士 Nyo i hakase No male physician would be permitted to care for the health of the emperor s women 7 Senior equerry or chamberlain for the women of the Emperor s household 采女正 Uneme no kami 8 First assistant equerry for the women of the Emperor s household 采女佑 Uneme no jō 8 Alternate equerries for the women of the Emperor s household 采女令史 Uneme no sakan 8 See also EditHeian Palace Kuge Japanese empresses List of NyoinNotes Edit Lebra Taikie 1995 Above the Clouds Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility p 218 Shirane Haruo et al 2000 Inventing the Classics Modernity National Identity and Japanese Literature p 113 a b c d e Lebra p 219 Ponsonby Fane P 318 a b c Titsingh Isaac 1834 Annales des empereurs du japon p 424 Titsingh p 433 History of the Imperial Household Agency Archived 2007 12 15 at the Wayback Machine Titsingh p 434 a b c Titsingh p 435 References Edit in Japanese Asai Torao 1985 Nyokan Tsukai Tokyo Kōdansha Lebra Takie Sugiyama 1995 Above the Clouds Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility Berkeley University of California Press ISBN 0 520 07602 8 Shirane Haruo and Tomi Suzuki 2000 Inventing the Classics Modernity National Identity and Japanese Literature Stanford Stanford University Press ISBN 0 8047 4105 0 in French Titsingh Isaac ed 1834 Siyun sai Rin siyo Hayashi Gahō 1652 Nipon o dai itsi ran ou Annales des empereurs du Japon Paris Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kōkyu amp oldid 1081942208, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
