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皇祖 (こうそ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

皇こう祖そ

こ

う

そ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

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.

Kanji

皇emperor
祖ancestor, pioneer, founder

Similar 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.

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.