The Tale of Genji (manga) - Terms in Heian Peers

Terms in Heian Peers

Basic terms

• Tei, Mikado (帝) : Emperor
• Official spouses of emperor: There are some classes of official spouses.
  • Chuuguu (中宮), or Kougou (皇后) : Empress consort, formal spouse, highest rank, member of royal family
  • Nyougo (女御) : 1st class concubine, usually royal princess or daughter of highest rank house
  • Koui (更衣) : 2nd class concubine, usually daughter of middle rank house
  • Naishi-no-kami (尚侍) : Chief Lady of Chamber, Emperor's Secretary in chief, sometimes informal 1st class concubine
  • Naishi-no-suke (典侍) : Deputy Lady of Chamber, Emperor's deputy Secretary
• Shinnou (親王) : Royal prince, son of emperor/royal prince, authorized by emperor
• Nai-shinnou (内親王) : Royal princess, daughter of emperor/royal prince, authorized by emperor
• Miya (宮) : Royal prince/princess, house of emperor/royal family
• Ichi-no-miya (一宮) : eldest Royal prince/princess
• Ni-no-miya (二宮) : second Royal prince/princess
• San-no-miya (三宮) : third Royal prince/princess
• Joukou (上皇) : Ex-emperor/Ex-empress
• In (院) : title name of Ex-emperor, palace of Ex-emperor
  • Kiritsubo-tei (桐壺帝) : Emperor Kiritsubo
  • Kiritsubo-in (桐壺院) : Ex-Emperor Kiritsubo
  • Suzaku-tei (朱雀帝) : Emperor Suzaku
  • Reizei-tei (冷泉帝) : Emperor Reizei
  • Rokujou-in (六條院) : Ex-Emperor Rokujou (de-facto-Ex-Emperor title of Hikaru Genji)
• Otodo, Daijin (大臣) : Minister
  • Dajou-daijin (太政大臣) : Grand Minister
  • Sa-daijin (左大臣) : Minister at the left, higher rank than U-daijin
  • U-daijin (右大臣) : Minister at the right
  • Shikibukyou (式部卿) : Lord Minisiter of Ceremony
  • Shikibukyou-no-miya (式部卿宮) : Prince Lord Minister of Ceremony
• Ue (上) : literally "up", "the high", in the case of "/female name/+no+Ue", formal spouse of highest rank person, such as formal spouse of Grand Minister
  • Aoi-no-ue (葵の上) : formal spouse of Hikaru Genji, Genji later became Grand Minister and Ex-Emperor
  • Murasaki-no-ue (紫の上) : de-facto-formal spouse of Hikaru Genji, Murasaki is but not so high rank as that of Aoi. Aoi is a daughter of Grand Minister and Royal princess. Murasaki is an informal daughter of Royal prince and a daughter of middle class peer.