Tosho-ke

Japanese: 堂上家 - とうしょうけ

A general term for families that were allowed to enter the palace, one of the ranks of the nobles. It can also be read as "dosho-ke." Entering the palace meant going up to the upper room of the south wing of Seiryoden. Examples of this were the Sekke, Seigake, Daijinke, Urinke, and Meika families, and in the Edo period, they were allowed to enter the palace at the time of coming-of-age ceremony. As they were ranked as nobles with ranks of councilor or third rank or higher, they were also called Kugyoshu or Kugeshu. Those who were not allowed to enter the palace were called Jige.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

公家(くげ)の家格の一つで，昇殿(しょうでん)を許された家柄の総称。〈どうしょうけ〉とも読む。昇殿は清涼殿南廂(みなみびさし)の殿上(てんじょう)の間に昇ることで，摂家(せっけ)・清華家(せいがけ)・大臣家(だいじんけ)や，羽林家(うりんけ)・名家(めいか)などがあり，江戸時代には元服(げんぷく)のとき昇殿を許されるのを例としていた。参議や三位(さんみ)以上の官位について公卿に列することから，公卿(くぎょう)衆・公家衆とも称された。昇殿を許されないものを地下(じげ)という。

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