Nobleman - Kuge

It can also be read as "Oyake" or "Koke". It is a designation for the Emperor. It is also a general term for the Imperial Court or its officials. Originally it meant the monarch's family or government office, but it came to refer to the Emperor. As samurai came to hold power and were called warrior families, it became a general term for the Imperial Court or its officials, especially the upper-class courtiers, and was used in the same sense as Kugyo. In the Edo period, after the ranks of courtiers were fixed, it came to mean roughly the same thing as the family lineage allowed to enter the palace (Tosho-ke).

[Yoshihiko Hashimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「おおやけ」「こうけ」とも読む。天皇の指称(ししょう)。また朝廷ないしその官人の総称。本来君主の家または官庁を意味することばであるが、転じて天皇をさす称となり、さらに武士が政権を握って武家とよばれるに伴い、それに対して朝廷ないし朝廷の官人、とくに上層の廷臣の総称となり、公卿(くぎょう)と同じ意味にも用いられた。江戸時代、廷臣の家格が固定してからは、昇殿を許された家柄（堂上家(とうしょうけ)）とほぼ同じ意味の用語となった。

［橋本義彦］

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