パソコンやスマートフォンの普及により、自分で漢字を書く機会が減少し、読みはできるけど書けない漢字が増えているという課題があります。漢字を読んだり書いたりすることで脳を鍛え、文章力を維持できます。漢字力を向上させるためには、漢字の由来や意味について学習することが役立ちます。また、特定の漢字に関する興味深い背景や歴史を追求することで、より深く理解できる可能性があります。
With the prevalence of personal computers and smartphones, opportunities to write characters by hand have significantly decreased. As a result, have you noticed an increase in characters that you can read but struggle to write? You may feel that your writing abilities have decreased even though you were fluent in the past.
You can train your brain by reading and writing characters while reading articles. Through this article, you can also learn about kanji reading, writing, and meanings to help maintain your kanji proficiency.
In the “Brain Training Kanji” 196th edition, we present “Irundai.” Haven’t you heard this word often in period dramas? Deepen your knowledge of kanji by reading and writing it.
What is “Irundai”?
Can you read “Irundai”? Instead of “Nyundai”…
The correct answer is…
“Juudai” (十代).
According to the “Shogakukan Digital Daijisen,” it explains that “Irundai” refers to the promotion from the outer rank to the five steps below the fifth rank in the Ritsuryo system. “Nyuna” signifies the formal entry of an Empress into the Imperial Palace, akin to modern marriage.
In the early Heian period, the daughter of the Regent Fujiwara no Motoke, Yaso no Ono, became the Empress Consort of the Great Emperor, subsequently ascending to become the Empress. This led to the elaborate Imperial marriage ceremony and its grandeur.
By the enactment of the Imperial Family Law in 1910, the ceremony of the Empress’s formal entry into the Imperial Palace during the Heian period came to be known as the “Empress’s entrance ceremony.” Its origin is said to date back to the ancient “Imperial Consort Entrance Ceremony.”
What is the origin of the kanji for “Irundai”?
“Irundai” literally means “entering the Inner Palace (the Emperor’s residence, the Imperial Palace).” While “Irundai” can also be read as “Nyundai,” the most common reading is “Judai.”
The Life of Fujiwara no Akiko.
I learned that the Consort Entrance Ceremony commenced in the early Heian period. This period corresponds to the NHK Taiga drama “To My Shining Star” currently being broadcast. The drama mentions Fujiwara no Michinaga, who stood at the pinnacle of the aristocratic society, and owes his power to the support of his sister, Senshiko.
Born as the daughter of Fujiwara no Kannauji, Junko entered as a concubine of Emperor Enryo in 978. She was later given the title of Prince Yasuhiro and was able to ascend to the throne as Emperor Ichijo. Consequently, Junko’s father, Kannauji, could wield power similar to his maternal grandfather, and Junko herself could assume the esteemed position of Empress Dowager.
Junko, who worshipped Emperor Ichijo, was said to have been very fond of her younger brother Michinaga. Even after the death of Michinaga’s eldest son Michitaka and the ensuing succession conflict, Junko supported Michitaka till the end. It is believed that she also plotted to install Michitaka’s daughter Akiko as the Empress Consort of Emperor Ichijo.
At the time, Emperor Ichijo already had Akie (Michitaka’s daughter) as his Empress Consort. Nevertheless, Michinaga decided to leave Akie as Empress Consort for the prosperity of the Michinaga family and to bring Akiko into the Imperial Palace.
Junko’s strategy succeeded, and Michinaga became the great-grandfather of three Emperors and experienced great prosperity. His diary “Mido Kanpakuki” expressed deep gratitude to Junko, expressing that he honored her as he would his parents.
Furthermore, the early Kamakura period history book “Gekan Sho” mentions, “Thanks to the influence of Seiko, we are here now.” Isn’t it safe to say that it was Adako who supported the prosperity of the Fujiwara clan from behind?
Did this introduction about “Naiuchi” help broaden your knowledge of kanji? Fujiwara no Michinaga is a representative aristocrat of the Heian period. Without the support of Junko, his youngest son, Michinaga, might not have achieved such success.
If you take a closer look at the background, don’t you think the story becomes even more intriguing?
By Tomoyo Maho (Kyoto Media Line)
HP: