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皇祖 (kouso) Japanese meaning: founder of an empire | Kotomora

皇こう祖そ

こ

う

そ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

founder of an empire; imperial ancestor

Refers to a divine, historical, or legendary founder of an empire, especially in East Asian contexts. Often used in formal or historical writing.

皇こう祖その遺い訓くんを守まもる。
Uphold the teachings left by the imperial founder.
この

Kanji

皇emperor
祖ancestor, pioneer, founder

Related words

始し祖そ
始祖 is a more general term for a founder or originator of any lineage, school, or movement, while 皇祖 specifically refers to an imperial founder.

Word family

皇こう祖そ妣ひ

神じん

社じゃ

は

皇こう

祖そ

を

祀まつ

っ

て

いる

。

This shrine is dedicated to the imperial ancestor.

deceased grandmother of the emperor

皇こう祖そ考こう

deceased imperial grandfather

皇こう祖そ皇こう宗そう

imperial ancestors; ancestors of the Imperial Family

Etymology

Composed of 皇 (imperial) and 祖 (ancestor). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound is conventionally used to refer to the founding ancestor of an imperial line.