noun
empress's palace; queen's palace; harem quarters
Refers to the physical palace building or quarters where the empress or queen resides, often within a larger imperial/royal complex.
后宮は紫禁城の奥深くにあった。
The empress's palace was located deep within the Forbidden City.
noun
Metonymic use: the palace stands for the person. Refers to the empress or queen herself, especially in historical or literary contexts.
后宮は自ら兵を率いて戦場に立った。
The queen herself led the troops onto the battlefield.