noun
inner palace; harem; seraglio
Refers to the section of a palace where the emperor's consorts and female attendants lived, especially in historical East Asian courts. Often used in descriptions of the Heian period or similar settings.
平安時代の後宮には多くの女官が仕えていた。
Many court ladies served in the inner palace during the Heian period.
後宮は男子禁制の空間だった。
The inner palace was a space forbidden to men.
noun
imperial consort
By extension, can refer to the consort herself, though this usage is less common and typically found in historical or literary texts.
彼女は後宮として帝の寵愛を受けた。
She received the emperor's favor as an imperial consort.