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
中宮とは、皇后・皇太后・太皇太后の三后を指す。
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).
一条天皇の中宮は藤原定子であった。
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.
中宮は多くの女房に囲まれていた。
The empress was surrounded by many court ladies.
中宮の庭には美しい花が咲いていた。
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.
この神社の中宮は、本殿と拝殿の間に位置している。
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
中宮の広大な敷地には、いくつもの御殿が建ち並んでいた。
On the vast grounds of the imperial palace, several palaces stood in rows.
皇居 is the modern term for the Imperial Palace, while 中宮 in the palace-grounds sense is historical.
From Middle Chinese 中宮 (ʈɨuŋ kɨuŋ, literally 'middle palace'). The term was adopted into Japanese with various historical meanings related to the imperial court.