also: ちょく · しょう
imperial decree; imperial edict
A command, proclamation, or edict issued by an emperor. The word belongs mainly to historical, classical, legal-historical, or imperial contexts; 勅 is typically read ちょく, while 詔 is often read みことのり in older or literary usage.
By imperial decree, an envoy was dispatched.
Ancient emperors issued imperial edicts to state their policies.
The emperor issued an imperial edict concerning the new law.
The emperor handed down an edict changing the era name.
The vassals gathered an army in obedience to the imperial edict.
勅使 is the imperial envoy who delivers or represents the emperor's will, a person, whereas 勅 is the edict or order itself, not a person.
Native Japanese reading for an imperial edict; common in historical, classical, or literary contexts.
Attested on-reading of 詔; learners are more likely to meet 詔 as みことのり or in compounds such as 詔書.
Old explanatory-style spelling for みことのり; useful for recognition, but not a normal modern spelling.