also: れいかん
noun
ceremonial crown; court head-ornament
Historical term for a crown or head-ornament worn by nobility with formal or ceremonial attire under the ritsuryō system. Archaic; not used in modern contexts.
礼冠は、律令制の時代に貴族が儀式の際に着用した冠である。
The raikan was a crown worn by nobles during ceremonies in the ritsuryō period.
General word for crown or headdress; 礼冠 specifically refers to the historical ceremonial crown of the ritsuryō nobility.
Another type of ceremonial crown in East Asian tradition, often with a flat top and strings of beads; 礼冠 is a broader term for formal head-ornaments in the Japanese court context.
Compound of 礼 (rei, 'ceremony, etiquette') and 冠 (kan, 'crown'). The reading らいかん is a regular on'yomi combination; れいかん is an alternative reading.