中ちゅう宮ぐう

noun

the three empresses (Empress, Empress Dowager, Grand Empress Dowager)

Historical term referring collectively to the Empress, Empress Dowager, and Grand Empress Dowager. See also 三后.

See also: 三后

• 中ちゅう宮ぐうとは、皇こう后ごう・皇こう太たい后ごう・太たい皇こう太たい后ごうの三さん后ごうを指さす。

  Chūgū refers to the three empresses: the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and the Grand Empress Dowager.

noun

emperor's second consort

In the Heian period, the title given to the emperor's second consort, distinct from the principal empress (皇后).

• 一いち条じょう天皇てんのうの中ちゅう宮ぐうは藤ふじ原わら定子のていしであった。

  Emperor Ichijō's second consort was Fujiwara no Teishi.

noun

empress; empress's palace

Can refer to the empress herself or her residence. The palace sense is less common in modern usage.

• 中ちゅう宮ぐうは多おおくの女にょう房ぼうに囲かこまれていた。

  The empress was surrounded by many court ladies.

• 中ちゅう宮ぐうの庭にわには美うつくしい花はなが咲さいていた。

  Beautiful flowers bloomed in the garden of the empress's palace.

noun

middle shrine building

In Shinto shrine architecture, a building situated on middle ground within the shrine complex.

• この神じん社じゃの中ちゅう宮ぐうは、本ほん殿でんと拝はい殿でんの間あいだに位い置ちしている。

  The middle shrine building of this shrine is located between the main hall and the worship hall.

noun

imperial palace grounds

Refers to the demesne or enclosed land of the imperial palace. See also 皇居.

See also: 皇居

• 中ちゅう宮ぐうの広こう大だいな敷しき地ちには、いくつもの御ご殿てんが建たち並ならんでいた。

  On the vast grounds of the imperial palace, several palaces stood in rows.