うらかた

• (Tokyo) うらかた (Heiban – )^[1]
• IPA^(key):

Compound of 裏 (ura, “behind, in back, hidden”) +‎ 方 (kata, “side; person”).^[2][1]

うらかた • (urakata) ^{←うらかた (urakata)?}

1. (most generally) someone from inside, someone from the background
2. (historically) someone from the inner household of a noble, most specifically a nobleman's wife
3. (Buddhism) the title of the wife of the head priest of Hongan-ji temple
4. (theater) behind-the-scenes assistant, propman

   Antonym: 表方 (omotekata)

5. (by extension) someone who works behind the scenes

Compound of 占 (ura, “divination, esoteric knowledge”) +‎ 形 (kata, “shape, form”).^[2][1] The 形 (kata, “shape, form”) was later reinterpreted as homophonous 方 (kata, “side; person”) in reference to someone who performs divination.^[2]

うらかた • (urakata) ^{←うらかた (urakata)?}

1. 占形: (ancient China) the shape or pattern of cracks on a tortoise shell during plastromancy
2. 占方: divination; someone who performs divination

   Synonym: 占い (uranai)

Compound of 浦 (ura, “harbor, inlet”) +‎ 方 (kata, “side; person”).^[2][1]

うらかた • (urakata) ^{←うらかた (urakata)?}

1. (historical) during the late Muromachi period and the Edo period, referred broadly to people living along the coast and making a living from the sea, in contrast to those farming inland or living in the mountains

   Coordinate terms: 村方 (murakata, “inland villager”), 山方 (yamakata, “mountain dweller”)

2. someone living in a coastal village