大名(だいみょう)

だいみょう
noun
feudal lord; daimyo
historyperson
1. feudal lord, daimyo
A powerful territorial lord in feudal Japan, particularly during the Sengoku and Edo periods. Daimyo governed domains (han) and served under the shogun.
この城(しろ)はかつて大名(だいみょう)の居城(きょじょう)だった。
This castle was once the residence of a feudal lord.
江戸時代(えどじだい)には約(やく)260の大名(だいみょう)がいた。
There were about 260 daimyo during the Edo period.
大名(だいみょう)は参勤交代(さんきんこうたい)で定期的(ていきてき)に江戸(えど)と領地(りょうち)を行(い)き来(き)していた。
The daimyo regularly traveled back and forth between Edo and their domains through the system of sankin-kōtai.

Cultural notes: 大名(だいみょう) were the most powerful class of feudal lords in Japan. During the 江戸時代(えどじだい) (Edo period, 1603-1868), they were required to participate in 参勤交代(さんきんこうたい) (alternate attendance), spending every other year in Edo as a form of control by the 幕府(ばくふ) (shogunate).

Compounds

  • 大名行列(だいみょうぎょうれつ): a daimyo's procession
  • 大名屋敷(だいみょうやしき): a daimyo's residence
  • 戦国大名(せんごくだいみょう): Sengoku-period warlord

Idioms: 大名旅行(だいみょうりょこう) means a luxurious, extravagant trip (traveling like a feudal lord).

Related Words

Related: 主君(しゅくん) (feudal lord, liege lord)
Compare: 領主(りょうしゅ) (feudal lord)
Related: 藩主(はんしゅ) (feudal lord)
general
Added 2026.2.7 17:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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