also: こうけい · くげ
noun
court noble; kugyō
Historical term for high-ranking court nobles in pre-modern Japan, especially the Heian period. Often used in historical or literary contexts.
平安時代、公卿は政治の中心にいた。
In the Heian period, the court nobles were at the center of politics.
この神社は公卿の寄進
This shrine was built with donations from court nobles.
noun
three lords and nine ministers
Only with reading こうけい
Historical term referring to the highest officials in ancient Chinese government. Read こうけい in this context.
古代中国の公卿は、三公と九卿から成る制度だった。
The ancient Chinese 'three lords and nine ministers' was a system consisting of the three dukes and nine ministers.
Gikun reading; historically used for the same Japanese court nobles, but くぎょう is more common.
From Chinese 公卿 (gōngqīng), referring to high officials. The reading くぎょう is the standard Japanese adaptation; こうけい is the on'yomi reading used for the Chinese historical sense; くげ is a gikun reading.