Japanese castes under the ritsuryo
Encyclopedia
and were the two main castes of the classical Japan caste
system.
When the Ritsuryō
legal system was starting to be enforced in Japan at the end of the 7th century, it included, as in Tang
China, a division between those two major castes. The term Ryosensei (良賤制) describes the whole system. The Senmin caste, divided into five "genres", is also called Goshiki no Sen (五色の賤), the Senmin of five genres, sometimes abbreviated to gosen (五賤).
Caste was part of the citizen registration enforced with the ritsuryō
.
Intercaste wedding was at first not allowed.
Ryōko, Kanko and Kenin were allowed to have their own families.
The lowest two levels of citizens (Nuhi, slaves) could be sold or owned by Ryōmin citizens, and were not allowed to have a registered family. This caste system was not very rigid, in the sense that Kunuhi could become Kanko when they got older (66), and automatically freed at very old age (76), and Ryōmin could become Senmin (at the Kanko level) after having committed some crimes.
At first, children born between Ryōmin and Senmin would become Senmin. In 789, this changed and children born between Ryōmin and Senmin were Ryōmin.
The Senmin was a minority of the whole population.
This system fell into disuse at the beginning of the 10th century.
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
system.
When the Ritsuryō
Ritsuryo
is the historical law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. The political system in accord to Ritsuryō is called "Ritsuryō-sei"...
legal system was starting to be enforced in Japan at the end of the 7th century, it included, as in Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
China, a division between those two major castes. The term Ryosensei (良賤制) describes the whole system. The Senmin caste, divided into five "genres", is also called Goshiki no Sen (五色の賤), the Senmin of five genres, sometimes abbreviated to gosen (五賤).
Caste was part of the citizen registration enforced with the ritsuryō
Ritsuryo
is the historical law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. The political system in accord to Ritsuryō is called "Ritsuryō-sei"...
.
Ryōmin
The Ryōmin (lit. Good citizens) were the upper-class, divided into the four following subcastes- Kanjin (官人)
- Kōmin (公民)
- Shinabe (品部)
- Zakko (雑戸)
Senmin
The Senmin (lit. low citizens) were the lower-class, divided into the five following subcastes- Ryōko (陵戸), dedicated to the imperial family or guards of imperial tombs
- Kanko (官戸), dedicated to public ministries
- Kenin (家人), servants of high-ranking families
- Kunuhi (公奴婢), slaves of the court
- Shinuhi (私奴婢), slaves of families
Intercaste wedding was at first not allowed.
Ryōko, Kanko and Kenin were allowed to have their own families.
The lowest two levels of citizens (Nuhi, slaves) could be sold or owned by Ryōmin citizens, and were not allowed to have a registered family. This caste system was not very rigid, in the sense that Kunuhi could become Kanko when they got older (66), and automatically freed at very old age (76), and Ryōmin could become Senmin (at the Kanko level) after having committed some crimes.
At first, children born between Ryōmin and Senmin would become Senmin. In 789, this changed and children born between Ryōmin and Senmin were Ryōmin.
The Senmin was a minority of the whole population.
This system fell into disuse at the beginning of the 10th century.