公く家げ

noun

court noble; kuge; nobility

Only with reading くげ

Refers specifically to the hereditary court nobility of pre-modern Japan, especially the Heian through Edo periods. Often contrasted with 武家 (buke, warrior class).

• 平へい安あん時じ代だい、公く家げは政せい治じの中ちゅう心しんにいた。

  In the Heian period, the court nobles were at the center of politics.

• 彼かれの家か系けいは古ふるい公く家げの出でだ。

  His family line descends from an old court noble family.

noun

Imperial Court

Metonymic use: the court nobility as a collective body or the institution of the Imperial Court itself. Historical term.

• 公く家げは長ながく伝でん統とう文ぶん化かを守まもってきた。

  The Imperial Court has long preserved traditional culture.