Yamanaka Aburaten Machiya Guest House

History of the Heian Palace Dairi Remains, Jhokyo-den, and Koki-den

History of Jhokyo-den

History of Jhokyo-den

‘The Tale of Genji’ begins with the line ‘In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others’.

High-ranking consorts resided in the Jhokyo-den Hall (inner palace), near the state chambers of the Imperial Palace, Shishinden Hall and Jijuden Hall, where official ceremonies were held. Jhokyo-den and Jijuden Hall used to be connected by a corridor.

On the Eastern veranda, there is a place where the Emperor’s books were kept and it is here that the Kokin Wakushu (Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times) was compiled.

The court lady who became Empress to the Emperor Daigo and Inchijo who lived here was called “the Lady of Jhokyoden.”

History of Kokiden Hall

Kokiden Hall was an important palace in the inner palace near Seiryoden where the Emperor resided.

The Lady Kokiden of ‘The Tale of Genji’ is the character who entered the court of Emperor Kiritsubo and subsequently gave birth to the Emperor Suzaku.

Lady Kokiden is famous for persistently bullying Kiritsubo-no-koi, Genji’s mother.

The Lady’s younger sister Oborozukiyo also lived in Kokiden Hall and had a relationship with Genji.

This made the Lady angry at Genji, who was then exiled to Suma.
In real life, women referred to as ‘Lady Kokiden’ include Empresses of Emperor Uda, Emperor Murakami, and Emperor Ichijo.

 

What is a ‘Tsubone’?

A ‘tsubone’ is the room of the ladies-in-waiting who served the Empress.
It is a suitable name for our machiya guest house located in the area centred in the inner part of the Heian Imperial Palace.

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