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侯伯 (こうはく, kouhaku) Japanese meaning: nobles | Kotomora

侯こう伯はく

こ

う

は

く

Meanings

1

nobles; feudal lords

Historical term referring to high-ranking nobles and feudal lords, especially in pre-modern East Asian contexts. Not used in modern everyday speech.

侯こう伯はくたちが集あつまって国こく政せいを議ぎ論ろんした。
The feudal lords gathered to discuss state affairs.

Kanji

侯marquis, lord, daimyo
伯chief, count, earl

Related words

諸しょ侯こう
諸侯 is a more common term for feudal lords or daimyo, while 侯伯 specifically refers to marquises and counts in the Chinese/Japanese peerage system.
貴き族ぞく
貴族 is the general modern word for 'nobility' or 'aristocrat', whereas 侯伯 is an archaic, specific term for certain ranks of feudal lords.

Etymology

Compound of 侯 (marquis) and 伯 (count), two ranks in the traditional East Asian peerage system. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is now archaic.