Taiko - Taiko

It can also be written as "Dai-ko". In the Heian period, it was an honorific given to regents and grand ministers. It eventually came to refer to those who received the imperial decree of an internal affairs officer after stepping down from the position of Kanpaku, or those who handed the position over to their sons. A Taiko who became a monk was called Zenjo Taiko (Zenko). Later, after Toyotomi Hideyoshi handed over the position of Kanpaku to his nephew Hidetsugu, who was adopted by Hideyoshi, after the death of his eldest son Tsurumatsu, he preferred to call himself Taiko, and Taiko became a title of honor for Hideyoshi. Examples include the Taikoki, Taiko Kenchi, and Taiko Giri (Hideyoshi's crest).

[Kiyoo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「大閤」とも書く。平安時代には摂政(せっしょう)や太政(だいじょう)大臣に対する尊称。やがて関白(かんぱく)を辞したのちにも内覧の宣旨を被(こうむ)った人や、関白を子息に譲った人をさすようになる。太閤の出家した人を禅定(ぜんじょう)太閤（禅閤(ぜんこう)）と称す。のちに豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉が長男鶴松(つるまつ)の死後、秀吉の養子になった甥(おい)の秀次(ひでつぐ)に関白を譲ったのちに、自ら好んで太閤と称したので、太閤は秀吉の尊称となった。太閤記、太閤検地、太閤桐(ぎり)（秀吉の紋所(もんどころ)）という表現はその例。

［伊藤清郎］

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