院いん政せい

noun

cloistered rule; government by retired emperors

Historical term referring to the system in which a retired emperor (上皇 or 法皇) continued to wield political power from a monastery or separate court, often overshadowing the reigning emperor. Common in Japanese history from the late Heian period onward.

See also: 太上法皇

• 白しら河かわ上じょう皇こうは院いん政せいを始はじめたことで知しられている。

  Emperor Shirakawa is known for having begun cloistered rule.

• 院いん政せい期きには、上じょう皇こうが実じっ質しつ的てきな権けん力りょくを握にぎっていた。

  During the period of cloistered rule, the retired emperor held real power.