noun
professor of kanji readings in Confucian classics
Historical title from the Heian period; a scholar who specialized in the correct Chinese-derived readings of characters in Confucian texts. Rarely used outside historical contexts.
平安時代には、音博士が経典の漢字の読み方を教えた。
In the Heian period, the professor of readings taught how to read the kanji in the classics.
Compound of 音 (on, 'sound, reading') and 博士 (hakase, 'doctor, professor'). The reading おんはかせ is the standard; こえのはかせ and おんぱかせ are irregular kana usages noted.