noun
Used for the first volume of a two- or three-volume set, or the first part of a larger work. Often contrasted with 中編 (middle volume) and 下編 (last volume).
この全集の上編は明治時代を扱っている。
The first volume of this complete works covers the Meiji period.
上編だけ読んで、まだ中編と下編は読んでいない。
I've only read the first part; I haven't read the middle and last parts yet.
Compound of 上 (じょう, 'upper' or 'first') and 編 (へん, 'volume' or 'compilation').