Miyasudokoro - Palace

A title for the ladies who served in the emperor's bedroom. The title comes from the idea of ​​attending on the palace grounds where the emperor rests. There are also examples where Nyogo and Koi were called Miyasudokoro, but while both are official titles for members of the harem, as stipulated in the Konin and Engishiki ceremonies, Miyasudokoro is a general title for ladies below the rank of Nyogo. It first appeared in documents from the early Heian period, and is often found in stories and poetry books, but from the late Heian period onwards, examples of it referring to the emperor's harem became rare, and it came to be used exclusively for the wives of the crown prince and princes.

[Yoshihiko Hashimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

天皇の寝所に侍する宮女の称。天皇の休息する殿中に伺候する意による呼称。女御(にょうご)や更衣(こうい)を御息所と称した例もあるが、両者が弘仁(こうにん)式や延喜(えんぎ)式などにも規定の存する後宮の成員の公称であるのに対し、御息所は女御以下の宮女をさす汎称(はんしょう)である。平安前期の文献にみえ始め、物語や歌書の類に多くみかけるが、平安後期以降は天皇の後宮をさす例が希有(けう)となり、もっぱら皇太子や親王の妃(ひ)の称となった。

［橋本義彦］

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