also: べんでん
noun
emperor's temporary sojourn; temporary imperial residence
Historical term for a temporary lodging or resting place used by the emperor during travel or excursions. Rare in modern usage; primarily encountered in historical or literary contexts.
天皇の行幸の際には、各地に便殿が設けられた。
During the emperor's imperial visits, temporary sojourns were set up in various places.
古文書には、便殿の記述がしばしば見られる。
Descriptions of temporary imperial residences are often found in ancient documents.
行宮 also refers to a temporary imperial residence, but is a more general term and can be used for other high-ranking nobles, while 便殿 specifically emphasizes the emperor's temporary sojourn.
離宮 is a detached palace or secondary imperial residence, often more permanent than a 便殿, which is explicitly temporary.
Composed of 便 (convenience, temporary) and 殿 (palace, hall). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term appears in classical Japanese texts referring to temporary imperial lodgings.