錦にしきの御み旗はた

expression, noun

Imperial standard; brocade banner

Historical term for the banner used by the Imperial court, especially during the Boshin War, to legitimize a military force as the Imperial army.

• 戊ぼ辰しん戦せん争そうでは、錦にしきの御み旗はたを掲かかげた側がわが官かん軍ぐんとされた。

  In the Boshin War, the side that raised the Imperial standard was considered the Imperial army.

expression, noun

worthy cause; noble banner

Idiomatic extension: used to describe a cause or principle invoked to justify an action, often with a nuance of self-righteousness or pretext. Common in phrases like 錦の御旗に掲げる.

• 彼かれは「改かい革かく」を錦にしきの御み旗はたに掲かかげて、反はん対たい派はを押おさえつけた。

  He used 'reform' as his noble banner to suppress the opposition.

• 環かん境きょう保ほ護ごを錦にしきの御み旗はたにする企き業ぎょうが増ふえている。

  More and more companies are using environmental protection as their worthy cause.