御息所みやすどころ

also: みやすんどころ

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Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

imperial concubine; female court attendant serving in the emperor's bedchamber

Historical term for a woman who served the emperor intimately, either as a concubine or as a bedchamber attendant. Primarily used in Heian-period contexts.

『源げん氏じ物もの語がたり』には、御息所みやすどころと呼よばれる女じょ性せいが登とう場じょうする。
In The Tale of Genji, a woman called Miyasudokoro appears.
御息所みやすどころは天皇てんのうの寝しん所じょに仕つかえる女じょ官かんであった。
The Miyasudokoro was a court lady who served in the emperor's bedchamber.

Kanji

御honorable, manipulate, govern
息breath, respiration, son
所place, extent

Related words

女にょう御ご
女御 is a higher-ranking imperial consort, while 御息所 is a more general term for a woman serving in the emperor's private quarters, often of lower rank.
更こう衣い
更衣 is another rank of imperial consort, below 女御. 御息所 can refer to a concubine or attendant without specifying a formal rank.

Written forms

御息所Usage100%
- みやすどころ
  Standard historical spelling. The reading みやすんどころ is an older variant.
- みやすんどころ
  Older reading; mainly encountered in classical texts.
みやすんどころ

Etymology

From 御 (honorific prefix) + 息所 (resting place), literally 'honorable resting place', referring to the emperor's bedchamber and by extension the woman who attends there.