The was a division of the eighth century Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto

Imperial Court in Kyoto

thumb|left|350px|Front view of Kyoto imperial palaceImperial Court in Kyoto was the nominal ruling government of Japan from 794 AD until the Meiji Era, in which the court was moved to Tokyo and integrated into the Meiji government....

, instituted in the Asuka period

Asuka period

The , was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period...

 and formalized during the Heian period

Heian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period

Meiji period

The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

.

Overview

This ministry encompassed those of the Imperial Household whose functions brought them closest to the emperor. The ceremonies of the Imperial Household evolved over time. Among those holding the highest office in the Imperial Household ministry was Takaharu-shinnō, who would later become Emperor Go-Daigo

Emperor Go-Daigo

Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....

.

History

The ceremonial nature of the Imperial Household has changed over time. The Ministry was established in 649 as a liaison between the Daijō-kan and the Emperor.

The ambit of the Ministry's activities encompasses, for example:

• attendance upon the Emperor, including advice to him on his personal matters, supporting him in the maintenance of a proper dignity and helping him in the observance of proper forms of etiquette
• assisting in the inspection and countersigning of drafts of Imperial Rescripts
• making of representations to the Emperor
• support in the issuance of imperial orders in time of war
• monitoring the reception of addresses to the Emperor
• compilation of the history of the country
• maintenance of the records relating to the gazetteer
• maintenance of the records relating to the personal status of imperial princesses from the second to the fourth generation
• maintenance of the records relating to the maids of honour and other court ladies
• oversight of the submission to the Emperor of the census of the population in the various provinces
• oversight of the submission to the Emperor of the accounts of the taxes to be levied
• oversight of the submission to the Emperor of the lists of the priests and nuns in the provinces
• assistance relating to the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress
• supervision of the Imperial archives
• administration of the annual expenditure of the court and to various articles to be provided for the use of the Imperial family
• supervision of the astronomical calculations and the arrangement of the calendar
• oversight of the pictorial artists at court
• regulation of medicaments to be supplied to the Emperor and the medical advice to be given him
• maintenance of order in the palace

Hierarchy

Amongst the significant Daijō-kan officials within this ministry structure were:. After the 11th century, this position in the Imperial court was always an Imperial prince. This official oversees the inspection of the interior apartments of the palace; and he is granted the privilege of retaining his swords in the presence of the emperor....., 8 positions. There are 8 officials with this title, all equal in rank and in the confidence of the Emperor., 90 positions. There are 90 officials with this title; and when a sesshō becomes a kampaku, these men function under his orders. If the emperor is still a child, or if a woman occupies the throne, a kampaku is chosen to represent the emperor; and the kampaku is considered first amongst all others in Japan. Then the Shogun cannot undertake anything of importance without his approval. When the emperor governs directly on his own, the Udoneri may be by-passed... These officials must be very well versed in the affairs of China and Japan: and they edit or re-draft all of the emperor's edicts, rescripts, memorials and letters. For this kind of work, only men of the highest merit and distinction are chosen........ -- see Onmyōdō

Onmyodo

is a traditional Japanese esoteric cosmology, a mixture of natural science and occultism. It is based on the Chinese philosophies of Wu Xing and Yin and yang, introduced into Japan at the turn of the 6th century, and accepted as a practical system of divination...

.....

In the Meiji period

Meiji period

The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

, a variant equerry was introduced as part of the Imperial retinue. As explained in an excerpt from the :

" will perform attendant duties and will relay to him military matters and orders, be present at military reviews [in his name] and accompanying him to formal ceremonies and interviews."