also: しゅうめい
ruler's orders; master's orders
Refers to commands given by a lord, ruler, or master, often in historical or feudal contexts. The word carries a formal, authoritative tone.
The vassal went into battle following his lord's orders.
If it is the master's command, I will not shrink from any hardship.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading しゅめい is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered non-standard or archaic.
Compound of 主 (lord, master) and 命 (order, command). The reading しゅめい is the standard Sino-Japanese reading; the variant しゅうめい may reflect an older or dialectal pronunciation.