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))))))))))))) (. .)))
People looked down on the emperor for abandoning his duties and abdicating.
( People ( ( ( looked down ) ( on ( ( the emperor ) ( for ( ( ( abandoning ( his duties ) ) and ) abdicating ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS People)) (VP (VBD looked) (PRT (RP down)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN emperor)) (PP (IN for) (S (VP (VP (VBG abandoning) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS duties))) (CC and) (VP (VBG abdicating)))))))) (. .)))