人皇にんのう

also: じんのう · じんこう

に

ん

の

う

Meanings

A formal or historical term for an emperor, especially in contexts distinguishing human sovereigns from divine beings. Often used in classical or religious texts.

人皇にんのうの御み代よは長ながく続つづいた。
The reign of the emperor lasted long.
神しん話わでは、人皇にんのうは天あま照てらす大神おおみかみの子し孫そんとされる。
In mythology, the emperor is said to be a descendant of Amaterasu.

Kanji

人person
皇emperor

Related words

天皇てんのう
天皇 is the standard modern term for the Japanese emperor. 人皇 is more archaic and formal, often used in historical or religious contexts to emphasize the human aspect of the sovereign.
皇こう帝てい
皇帝 is a general term for emperor, often used for non-Japanese rulers (e.g., Chinese or Roman emperors). 人皇 is specifically Japanese and carries a traditional, sometimes mythological nuance.

Written forms

人皇Usage100%
- にんのう
  Standard kanji spelling; にんのう is the most common reading.
- じんのう
  Alternate reading, less common than にんのう.
- じんこう
  Rare reading; may appear in older texts.
じんこう
じんのう

Etymology

Literally “human sovereign,” used in traditional historical chronology for the line of human emperors following the preceding ages of heavenly and earthly deities.