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月卿雲客 (gekkeiunkaku) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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は
、
月げっ
卿けい
雲うん
客かく
が
華はな
やか
な
宮きゅう
廷てい
生せい
活かつ
を
送おく
る
様よう
子す
が
描えが
か
れ
て
いる
。
Tales from the Heian period depict court nobles and high-ranking courtiers leading a brilliant life at the imperial court.
Kanji 客 guest, visitor, customer Related words 公く 卿ぎょう 公卿 refers specifically to high-ranking court nobles (the top three ranks and advisors), while 月卿雲客 is a broader, more poetic term for all courtiers allowed into the palace.
殿てん 上じょう 人びと 殿上人 specifically denotes courtiers permitted to ascend to the emperor's residence (the Seiryōden), a subset of those included in 月卿雲客.
Etymology A yojijukugo of classical Chinese origin. 月卿 (moon officials) and 雲客 (cloud guests) are poetic metaphors for high-ranking courtiers, likening them to celestial beings. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is firmly associated with Heian court culture.
