Dajō-kan

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The was the Department of State in Nara and Heian period Japan. Created by the Code of Taihō (大宝律令) in 702, the Dajō-kan was headed by the Great Council of State and the Dajō Daijin (太政大臣; Chancellor of the Realm). It and its subsidiary ministries handled all secular administrative affairs of the country, while the Jingi-kan (神祇官) or Department of Worship, oversaw all matters regarding Shintō (神道) ritual, clergy, and shrines.

The Department gradually lost power over the course of the 10th and 11th centuries, as the Fujiwara clan, dominating the post of Imperial regent, began to dominate the Dajō-kan as well. It became increasingly common for the Regent to also hold the post of Chancellor, or Minister of the Right, or even both. By the 12th century, the Council was essentially powerless as a separate entity, though it is not clear when the system was formally dismantled. Fujiwara no Nobuyori was the last Chancellor, though only for a short time, in 1160.

Department Organization & Hierarchy

The Dajō-kan was headed by the Great Council of State which, in turn, was presided over by the Chancellor of the Realm (Dajō Daijin). Below him were the Minister of the Left (Sadaijin, 左大臣) and his deputy, the Minister of the Right (Udaijin, 右大臣), along with four Great Councillors (Dainagon, 大納言) and three Minor Councillors (Shōnagon, 少納言).

The Minister of the Left, through the Controller of the Left (Sadaiben, 左大弁), controlled four Ministries:

The Ministry of the Center (Nakatsukasa-shō, 中務省) which formed the channel between the Throne and the administration
The Ministry of Ceremony (Shikibu-shō, 式部省)
The Ministry of Civil Affairs (Jibu-shō, 治部省)
The Ministry of the People's Affairs (Minbu-shō, 民部省)

The Minister of the Right, through the Controller of the Right (Udaiben, 右大弁), also controlled four Ministries:

The Ministry of Military Affairs (Hyōbu-shō, 兵部省)
The Ministry of Justice (Gyōbu-shō, 刑部省)
The Ministry of the Treasury (Ōkura-shō, 大蔵省)
The Ministry of the Imperial Household (Kunai-shō, 宮内省)

The country was divided into provinces called kuni (国), which were administered by governors (kokushi, 国司) appointed by the Dajō-kan. The provinces were then further divided into districts called gun (郡) or kōri, under district governors (gunji, 郡司) who were appointed by the local nobility. At the beginning of the eighth century there were 592 districts making up 66 provinces.

Reference

Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

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