noun
biographies of each individual; individual biographies
Refers to a collection of separate biographies for each person in a group, especially in historical or literary contexts such as the Forty-seven Rōnin. Often used in titles.
See also: 忠臣蔵
忠臣蔵の銘々伝を読むと、各人の生き様がよくわかる。
Reading the individual biographies of the Forty-seven Rōnin gives a clear picture of each person's life.
列伝 is a series of biographies arranged in a single work, while 銘々伝 emphasizes separate biographies for each individual.
Compound of 銘々 (めいめい, 'each individual') and 伝 (でん, 'biography').