1.
women's quarters in Edo Castle
The inner chambers of Edo Castle where the shogun's wife, concubines, and their female attendants lived during the Edo period. By extension, also used to refer to any secretive inner circle dominated by women.
大奥は男子禁制だった。
The inner chambers were off-limits to men.
大奥を舞台にしたドラマが話題になった。
A drama set in the shogun's inner chambers became a hot topic.
大奥では数千人もの女性が働いていたと言われている。
It is said that several thousand women worked in the inner chambers.
CULTURE:
The 大奥 was the private living quarters within Edo Castle exclusively for women, including the shogun's wife (御台所), concubines (側室), and numerous female attendants. It was strictly forbidden for men to enter. The 大奥 is a popular subject in Japanese historical dramas, manga, and novels.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大奥の女中 (attendants of the inner chambers)
- 大奥を舞台にした (set in the inner chambers)