The burden of his spiritual functions as high priest of Shinto and the tasks of administration led the emperor to welcome an early abdication, frequently to retire to a life of Buddhist meditation and scholarship.
( ( ( The burden ) ( of ( ( his ( spiritual functions ) ) ( as ( ( ( ( high priest ) ( of Shinto ) ) and ) ( ( the tasks ) ( of administration ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( led ( the ( emperor ( to ( ( ( welcome ( an ( early abdication ) ) ) , ) ( frequently ( to ( retire ( to ( ( a life ) ( of ( Buddhist ( ( meditation and ) scholarship ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN burden)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (PRP$ his) (JJ spiritual) (NNS functions)) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (NP (JJ high) (NN priest)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP Shinto)))) (CC and) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS tasks)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN administration))))))))) (VP (VBD led) (NP (DT the) (NN emperor) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB welcome) (NP (DT an) (JJ early) (NN abdication)) (, ,) (S (ADVP (RB frequently)) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB retire) (PP (TO to) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN life)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ Buddhist) (NN meditation) (CC and) (NN scholarship))))))))))))) (. .)))
The emperor loved his political duties and refused to abdicate.
( ( The emperor ) ( ( ( ( loved ( his ( political duties ) ) ) and ) ( refused ( to abdicate ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN emperor)) (VP (VP (VBD loved) (NP (PRP$ his) (JJ political) (NNS duties))) (CC and) (VP (VBD refused) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB abdicate)))))) (. .)))