Above - Joro

It refers to high-ranking men and women, high-ranking court ladies, palace maids, or prostitutes. It is also the title of the job title for the Edo Shogunate's Ooku maids. There were two types: Kami-toshiyori (Okami) and Ko-toshiyori (Children who become Kami-toshiyori after coming of age). When people say Kami-toshiyori, they generally mean Kami-toshiyori. They were ranked higher than the Toshiyori who controlled the Ooku, but they did not have much power. They usually served as aides to the Shogun and Midai-dokoro (the Shogun's wife), performed knee-high duties, and acted as advisors to give instructions for events such as the tea ceremony, flower arranging, and incense containers. In addition, it is said that they were destined to act as a substitute for the Midai-dokoro in the event of a disaster. There were several of them, and each was appointed by a woman of the nobility. His common names (also called his family name) were Asukai, Anegakoji, Umetani, Oogimachi, Nishikikoji, and Madenokoji.

[Kitahara Akio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

身分の高い男子や女子、地位の高い女官や御殿女中、あるいは遊女などをいう。また江戸幕府大奥女中の職名。上﨟年寄(としより)（大(おお)上﨟）と小上﨟（小供(こども)。成人ののち上﨟年寄に進む）の2種類があった。このうち一般に上﨟というときは、上﨟年寄をさした。格式は大奥を支配する年寄の上位にあったが、さほどの権力はもたなかった。日ごろ将軍や御台所(みだいどころ)（将軍正室）の側近に伺候し、膝回(ひざまわ)りの御用を勤め、茶の湯、いけ花、香合(こうあわせ)などの行事には相談役としてその指図にあたった。このほか御台所に凶事のあるときは、その身代りを務める定めであったという。数人が置かれ、いずれも公家(くげ)の女の任ずるところであった。飛鳥井(あすかい)、姉小路(あねがこうじ)、梅渓(うめたに)、正親町(おおぎまち)、錦小路(にしきこうじ)、万里小路(までのこうじ)などを通名（生家の苗字(みょうじ)ともいう）とした。

［北原章男］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例