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聖旨 (せいし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

聖せい旨し

せ

い

し

Meanings

1

noun

imperial command; imperial decree

Formal term for an order or decree issued by an emperor. Used in historical or ceremonial contexts.

聖せい旨しに従したがい、臣しん下かたちは行こう動どうを起おこした。
Following the imperial command, the retainers took action.

Kanji

聖holy, saint, sage
旨delicious, relish, show a liking for

Similar words

勅ちょく命めい
勅命 also means an imperial order, but is more commonly used and can refer to orders from a wider range of historical contexts. 聖旨 carries a nuance of sacred or august will.

Etymology

Compound of 聖 (sacred, imperial) and 旨 (intention, decree). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of an imperial command.