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門院 (もんいん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

門もん院いん

も

ん

い

ん

Meanings

1

noun

empress dowager

Historical title for a retired empress or an empress dowager in the Japanese imperial court.

門もん院いんは、院いん政せい期きに重じゅう要ような役やく割わりを果はたした。
The empress dowager played an important role during the cloistered rule period.

Kanji

門gate, counter for cannons
院Inst., institution, temple

Similar words

上じょう皇こう
Refers to a retired emperor, while 門院 specifically refers to a retired empress or empress dowager.
女にょ院いん
A broader term for a woman who has received the title of 'in' (院), often an empress or imperial princess; 門院 is a specific title within that category.

Etymology

From 門 (mon, 'gate') + 院 (in, 'retired emperor/empress'), a title given to certain retired empresses in the Japanese imperial court. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is a historical honorific.