Mrs. - Mrs.

One of the positions in the harem under the ryo system. It can also be read as "bunin." It is ranked second to the consorts of the imperial family and above the concubines, with a capacity of three. In principle, they are of the third rank or higher, and many are the daughters of ministers. There are a few examples of wives rising to become empresses, including Fujiwara no Kōmyōshi, the wife of Emperor Shōmu. However, as the status of Nyōgo, who appeared in the early Heian period, gradually improved, this position was abolished with Fujiwara no Onatsu, the wife of Emperor Saga. The mother of the emperor who holds the position of wife is called kōtafujin, and was given the position of chūgushiki and was treated as an equal with the rank of empress, but this position was also abolished with Fujiwara no Onshi, the foster mother of Emperor Daigo, as the last.

[Yoshihiko Hashimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

令(りょう)制の後宮における地位の一つ。「ぶにん」とも読む。皇親出身の妃(ひ)に次ぎ、嬪(ひん)の上に位置し、定員3名。三位(さんみ)以上を原則とし、大臣の女(むすめ)などが多い。聖武(しょうむ)天皇の夫人藤原光明子(こうみょうし)をはじめ、夫人から皇后にのぼった例も二、三ある。しかし平安初期から現れた女御(にょうご)の地位がしだいに向上するに及び、嵯峨(さが)天皇の夫人藤原緒夏(おなつ)を最後として廃絶した。また天皇の母にして夫人位にあるものを皇太夫人といい、とくに中宮職(ちゅうぐうしき)を付置されて后位に准ずる優遇を受けたが、これも醍醐(だいご)天皇の養母藤原温子(おんし)を最後として廃絶した。

［橋本義彦］

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