直衣のうし

also: なおし · ちょくい

の

う

し

Meanings

nōshi (everyday court robe)

A type of informal court robe worn by male imperial family members and high-ranking nobles from the Heian period onward. It is a historical garment, primarily encountered in contexts of Japanese court culture, literature, or historical reenactment.

平へい安あん時じ代だいの貴き族ぞくは、普ふ段だん着ぎとして直衣のうしを着ちゃく用ようしていた。
Heian-period nobles wore nōshi as everyday attire.
この絵え巻まきには、直衣姿のうしすがたの公く卿ぎょうが描えがかれている。
In this picture scroll, a court noble in nōshi robes is depicted.

Kanji

直straightaway, honesty, frankness
衣garment, clothes, dressing

Related words

束そく帯たい
Formal court attire for the most ceremonial occasions, whereas 直衣 is less formal, everyday court wear.
狩かり衣ぎぬ
Another type of informal court robe, originally hunting wear, later used as everyday wear by nobles; similar in formality to 直衣 but with different stylistic details.

Written forms

直衣Usage100%
- のうし
  Standard kanji form; the most common reading is のうし.
- なおし
  Rare alternate reading; のうし is preferred.
- ちょくい
  Rare alternate reading; のうし is preferred.
なおし
ちょくい

Etymology

The reading のうし developed from the earlier form なおし. The word historically denotes informal court dress worn by noblemen outside the prescribed ceremonial uniform.