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Chūnagon

January 21, 2023

Chūnagon (中納言) was a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan.[1] The role dates from the 7th century.

Premodern Japan
Part of a series on the politics and
government of Japan during the
Nara and Heian periods
Daijō-daijin
Minister of the LeftSadaijin
Minister of the RightUdaijin
Minister of the CenterNaidaijin
Major CounselorDainagon
Middle CounselorChūnagon
Minor CounselorShōnagon
Eight Ministries
CenterNakatsukasa-shō  
CeremonialShikibu-shō
Civil AdministrationJibu-shō
Popular AffairsMinbu-shō
WarHyōbu-shō
JusticeGyōbu-shō
TreasuryŌkura-shō
Imperial HouseholdKunai-shō

The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705. This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century.[2]

This became a Taihō Code office in the early feudal Japanese government or daijō-kan.

In the ranks of the Imperial bureaucracy, the Chūnagon came between the Dainagon (major counselors) and the Shōnagon (minor counselors).[3] Imperial honors included the sometimes creation of a temporary or "acting middle counselor" (権中納言, gon-chūnagon).[4]

The number of Chūnagon has varied, from three in 705 to four in 756. There were eight in 1015; and in later years, there were up to ten Chūnagon at one time.[2]

Chūnagon in context

Any exercise of meaningful powers of court officials in the pre-Meiji period reached its nadir during the years of the Tokugawa shogunate, and yet the core structures of ritsuryō government did manage to endure for centuries.[5]

In order to appreciate the office of Chūnagon, it is necessary to evaluate its role in the traditional Japanese context of a durable yet flexible framework. This was a bureaucratic network and a hierarchy of functionaries. The role of Chūnagon was an important element in the Daijō-kan (Council of State). The Daijō-kan schema proved to be adaptable in the creation of constitutional government in the modern period.[6]

Highest Daijō-kan officials

The highest positions in the court hierarchy can be cataloged.[7] A dry list provides a superficial glimpse inside the complexity and inter-connected relationships of the Imperial court structure.

The next highest tier of officials were:

  • Dainagon (Major counselor, chief counselor of state[9]). There are commonly three Dainagon;[8] sometimes more.[10]
  • Chūnagon (Middle counselor).[11]
  • Shōnagon (Minor counselor); there are commonly three Shōnagon.[8]

Other high-ranking bureaucrats who function somewhat flexibly within the Daijō-kan were;

  • Sangi (Associate counselor).[12] This office functions as a manager of Daijō-kan activities within the palace.[3]
  • Geki (外記) (Secretariat). These are specifically named men who act at the sole discretion of the emperor.[3]

The Eight Ministries

The government ministries were eight semi-independent bureaucracies. A list alone cannot reveal much about the actual functioning of the Daijō-kan, but the broad hierarchical categories do suggest the way in which governmental functions were parsed:

Left

Right

The specific ministries above are not grouped arbitrarily. The two court officials below had responsibility for them as follows:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Nagon" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 685, p. 685, at Google Books
  2. ^ a b Nussbaum, "Chūnagon" at p. 128, p. 128, at Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 426., p. 426, at Google Books
  4. ^ Kodansha. (1983). "Ukita Hideie", in Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, Vol. 8, pp. 137–138.
  5. ^ Dickson, Walter G. et al. (1898). "The Eight Boards of Government" in Japan, pp. 55–78., p. 56, at Google Books; excerpt at p. 56, "Klaproth has given in his "Annals of the Emperors" a sketch of these eight boards, with the offices under each. It is ... a concise account of the government of Japan. The study of such a subject is rather dry and uninteresting, but it is necessary for any one who wishes to make himself acquainted with Japanese history, either of the past or of the present day ..."
  6. ^ Ozaki, Yukio. (2001). The Autobiography of Ozaki Yukio: The Struggle for Constitutional Government in Japan pp. 10–11., p. 10, at Google Books
  7. ^ Titsingh, pp. 425-426., p. 425, at Google Books
  8. ^ a b c d e f Titsingh, p. 425, p. 425, at Google Books; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 272.
  9. ^ Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary, ISBN 4-7674-2015-6
  10. ^ Unterstein (in German): Ranks in Ancient and Meiji Japan (in English and French), p. 6.
  11. ^ Dickson, p. 60., p. 60, at Google Books
  12. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Sangi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 817, p. 817, at Google Books.
  13. ^ a b Titsingh, p. 427., p. 427, at Google Books
  14. ^ Titsingh, pp. 429., p. 429, at Google Books
  15. ^ a b Titsingh, p. 430., p. 430, at Google Books
  16. ^ Titsingh, p. 431., p. 431, at Google Books
  17. ^ Titsingh, p. 432., p. 432, at Google Books
  18. ^ Titsingh, p. 433., p. 433, at Google Books
  19. ^ a b Varley, p. 272.

References

  • Dickson, Walter G. and Mayo Williamson Hazeltine. (1898). "The Eight Boards of Government" in Japan. New York: P. F. Collier. OCLC 285881
  • Kodansha. (1983). "Ukita Hideie", in Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Kodansha. OCLC 233144013
  • Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). "Chunagon" in Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 48943301
  • Ozaki, Yukio. (2001). The Autobiography of Ozaki Yukio: The Struggle for Constitutional Government in Japan, translated by Fujiko Hara. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691050959; OCLC 123043741
  • Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
  • Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842

Further reading

  • Dickenson, Walter G. (1869). Japan: Being a Sketch of the History, Government and Officers of the Empire. London: W. Blackwood and Sons. OCLC 10716445

January 21, 2023
chūnagon, 中納言, counselor, second, rank, imperial, court, japan, role, dates, from, century, premodern, japanpart, series, politics, andgovernment, japan, during, thenara, heian, periodsdaijō, council, state, chancellor, chief, ministerdaijō, daijinminister, le. Chunagon 中納言 was a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan 1 The role dates from the 7th century Premodern JapanPart of a series on the politics andgovernment of Japan during theNara and Heian periodsDaijō kan Council of State Chancellor Chief MinisterDaijō daijinMinister of the LeftSadaijinMinister of the RightUdaijinMinister of the CenterNaidaijinMajor CounselorDainagonMiddle CounselorChunagonMinor CounselorShōnagonEight MinistriesCenterNakatsukasa shō CeremonialShikibu shōCivil AdministrationJibu shōPopular AffairsMinbu shōWarHyōbu shōJusticeGyōbu shōTreasuryŌkura shōImperial HouseholdKunai shōvteThe role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701 but it was re established in 705 This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century 2 This became a Taihō Code office in the early feudal Japanese government or daijō kan In the ranks of the Imperial bureaucracy the Chunagon came between the Dainagon major counselors and the Shōnagon minor counselors 3 Imperial honors included the sometimes creation of a temporary or acting middle counselor 権中納言 gon chunagon 4 The number of Chunagon has varied from three in 705 to four in 756 There were eight in 1015 and in later years there were up to ten Chunagon at one time 2 Contents 1 Chunagon in context 1 1 Highest Daijō kan officials 1 2 The Eight Ministries 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingChunagon in context EditAny exercise of meaningful powers of court officials in the pre Meiji period reached its nadir during the years of the Tokugawa shogunate and yet the core structures of ritsuryō government did manage to endure for centuries 5 In order to appreciate the office of Chunagon it is necessary to evaluate its role in the traditional Japanese context of a durable yet flexible framework This was a bureaucratic network and a hierarchy of functionaries The role of Chunagon was an important element in the Daijō kan Council of State The Daijō kan schema proved to be adaptable in the creation of constitutional government in the modern period 6 Highest Daijō kan officials Edit The highest positions in the court hierarchy can be cataloged 7 A dry list provides a superficial glimpse inside the complexity and inter connected relationships of the Imperial court structure Daijō daijin Chancellor of the Realm or Chief Minister 8 Sadaijin Minister of the Left 8 Udaijin Minister of the Right 8 Naidaijin Minister of the Center 8 The next highest tier of officials were Dainagon Major counselor chief counselor of state 9 There are commonly three Dainagon 8 sometimes more 10 Chunagon Middle counselor 11 Shōnagon Minor counselor there are commonly three Shōnagon 8 Other high ranking bureaucrats who function somewhat flexibly within the Daijō kan were Sangi Associate counselor 12 This office functions as a manager of Daijō kan activities within the palace 3 Geki 外記 Secretariat These are specifically named men who act at the sole discretion of the emperor 3 The Eight Ministries Edit The government ministries were eight semi independent bureaucracies A list alone cannot reveal much about the actual functioning of the Daijō kan but the broad hierarchical categories do suggest the way in which governmental functions were parsed Left Ministry of the Center 13 Ministry of Civil Services also known as the Ministry of Legislative Direction and Public Instruction 13 Ministry of Ceremonies also known as the Ministry of the Interior 14 Ministry of Taxation 15 Right Ministry of the Military 15 Ministry of Justice 16 Ministry of the Treasury 17 Ministry of the Imperial Household 18 The specific ministries above are not grouped arbitrarily The two court officials below had responsibility for them as follows Major Controller of the Left 左大弁 Sadaiben 19 This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries Center Civil Services Ceremonies and Taxation 3 Major Controller of the Right 右大弁 Udaiben 19 This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries Military Justice Treasury and Imperial Household 3 See also EditDaijō kan Sesshō and Kampaku Kōkyu Kuge Imperial Household Agency Hamamatsu Chunagon Monogatari Tsutsumi Chunagon Monogatari Torikaebaya MonogatariNotes Edit Nussbaum Louis Frederic 2005 Nagon in Japan Encyclopedia p 685 p 685 at Google Books a b Nussbaum Chunagon at p 128 p 128 at Google Books a b c d e Titsingh Isaac 1834 Annales des empereurs du japon p 426 p 426 at Google Books Kodansha 1983 Ukita Hideie in Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan Vol 8 pp 137 138 Dickson Walter G et al 1898 The Eight Boards of Government inJapan pp 55 78 p 56 at Google Books excerpt at p 56 Klaproth has given in his Annals of the Emperors a sketch of these eight boards with the offices under each It is a concise account of the government of Japan The study of such a subject is rather dry and uninteresting but it is necessary for any one who wishes to make himself acquainted with Japanese history either of the past or of the present day Ozaki Yukio 2001 The Autobiography of Ozaki Yukio The Struggle for Constitutional Government in Japanpp 10 11 p 10 at Google Books Titsingh pp 425 426 p 425 at Google Books a b c d e f Titsingh p 425 p 425 at Google Books Varley H Paul 1980 Jinnō Shōtōki p 272 Kenkyusha s New Japanese English Dictionary ISBN 4 7674 2015 6 Unterstein in German Ranks in Ancient and Meiji Japan in English and French p 6 Dickson p 60 p 60 at Google Books Nussbaum Louis Frederic 2005 Sangi in Japan Encyclopedia p 817 p 817 at Google Books a b Titsingh p 427 p 427 at Google Books Titsingh pp 429 p 429 at Google Books a b Titsingh p 430 p 430 at Google Books Titsingh p 431 p 431 at Google Books Titsingh p 432 p 432 at Google Books Titsingh p 433 p 433 at Google Books a b Varley p 272 References EditDickson Walter G and Mayo Williamson Hazeltine 1898 The Eight Boards of Government in Japan New York P F Collier OCLC 285881 Kodansha 1983 Ukita Hideie in Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan Tokyo Kodansha OCLC 233144013 Nussbaum Louis Frederic and Kathe Roth 2005 Chunagon in Japan Encyclopedia Cambridge Harvard University Press ISBN 978 0 674 01753 5 OCLC 48943301 Ozaki Yukio 2001 The Autobiography of Ozaki Yukio The Struggle for Constitutional Government in Japan translated by Fujiko Hara Princeton Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691050959 OCLC 123043741 Titsingh Isaac 1834 Nihon Ōdai Ichiran ou Annales des empereurs du Japon Paris Royal Asiatic Society Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland OCLC 5850691 Varley H Paul 1980 Jinnō Shōtōki A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns New York Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 04940 5 OCLC 59145842Further reading EditDickenson Walter G 1869 Japan Being a Sketch of the History Government and Officers of the Empire London W Blackwood and Sons OCLC 10716445 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chunagon amp oldid 887007145, 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