also: しいそん
noun
extreme reverence; deeply revered person
Refers to the highest object of respect, often in a historical or literary context. Can denote the abstract quality of supreme reverence or a person who embodies it.
彼は至尊の存在として崇められた。
He was revered as a supremely respected figure.
noun
Specifically used to refer to the Emperor of Japan as the ultimate object of reverence. This usage is formal and traditional.
至尊としての天皇の地位は、歴史的に特別な意味を持っていた。
The Emperor's position as the supreme revered one held special historical significance.
Obsolete reading; it is out-dated kana usage.
尊皇 means 'reverence for the Emperor' as a political or ideological stance, while 至尊 is the revered person or the abstract reverence itself.
崇拝 is general 'worship' or 'adoration', often used for idols or deities, whereas 至尊 implies the highest, singular object of reverence, typically in a traditional or imperial context.
Composed of 至 (ultimate) and 尊 (revered). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used in classical Chinese and Japanese texts to denote the highest object of respect.