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太上法皇 (だいじょうほうおう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

太上法皇だいじょうほうおう

also: だじょうほうおう

Meanings

1

noun

cloistered emperor; ex-emperor who has become a monk

honorific or respectful (sonkeigo)

Historical title for a retired emperor who has taken Buddhist vows. Used in contexts of Japanese imperial history.

白しら河かわ上じょう皇こうは後のちに出しゅっ家けして太上だいじょう法ほう皇おうとなった。
Emperor Shirakawa later entered the priesthood and became a cloistered emperor.
太上だいじょう法ほう皇おうは院いん政せいを行おこなった。
The cloistered emperor ruled from behind the scenes.

Written forms

太上法皇
- だいじょうほうおう
  Standard kanji spelling for this historical title.
- だじょうほうおう
  Alternate reading; less common than だいじょうほうおう.
だじょうほうおう

Kanji

太plump, thick, big around

above, up

法method, law, rule

皇emperor

Similar words

法ほう皇おう
法皇 is a broader term for an emperor who has become a monk, while 太上法皇 specifically refers to a retired emperor who has taken Buddhist vows.
上じょう皇こう
上皇 is a retired emperor, but not necessarily a monk; 太上法皇 adds the religious dimension.

Etymology

From 太上 (retired emperor) + 法皇 (monk-emperor). The term emerged in the Heian period when retired emperors took Buddhist vows while retaining political influence.