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衣冠束帯 (いかんそくたい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
full traditional Japanese court dress
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
Refers to the complete formal attire worn by court nobles in the Heian period and later, combining 衣冠 (ikan) and 束帯 (sokutai). A historical and cultural term.
博はく 物ぶつ 館かん で 平へい 安あん 時じ 代だい の 衣い 冠かん 束そく 帯たい の 複ふく 製せい が 展てん 示じ さ れ て いる 。
A replica of Heian-period full court dress is on display at the museum.
Kanji 衣 garment, clothes, dressing Similar words 束そく 帯たい Refers specifically to the sokutai, the main outer garment of formal court attire, while 衣冠束帯 encompasses the complete ensemble including the 衣冠 (ikan) headdress and robes.
衣い 冠かん Refers to the ikan, a slightly less formal court outfit, or specifically the headdress and robes; 衣冠束帯 is the full formal combination.
Etymology Compound of 衣冠 (ikan, 'courtier's informal robes and headdress') and 束帯 (sokutai, 'formal court attire'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term collectively denotes the full traditional court dress.