Sangi (Japan)
Encyclopedia
was an associate counselor in the Imperial court of Japan from the 8th century until the Meiji period
in the 19th century.
This was a position in the daijō-kan, or early feudal Japanese government. It was established in 702
by the Code of Taihō.
In the ranks of the Imperial bureaucracy, the Sangi came between the Shōnagon
(minor councillors) and those with more narrowly defined roles, such as the Sadaiben and Udaiben who were the administrators charged with oversight of the eight ministries of the government.
In an early review of the Imperial hierarchy, Julius Klaproth
's 1834 supplement to Nihon Odai Ichiran
conflated the hierarchical position with a functional role as the director of palace affairs.
Prominent among those holding this office were three brothers:
The position was eliminated in 1885.
reached its nadir during the years of the Tokugawa shogunate
, and yet the core structures of ritsuryō
government did manage to endure for centuries.
In order to appreciate the office of Sangi, 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 Sangi 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.
The next highest tier of officials were:
Other high ranking bureaucrats who function somewhat flexibly within the Daijō-kan were;
The specific ministries above are not grouped arbitrarily. The two court officials below had responsibility for them as follows: This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries: Center, Civil Services
, Ceremonies
, and Taxation
. This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries: Military
, Justice
, Treasury
and Imperial Household.
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 :...
in the 19th century.
This was a position in the daijō-kan, or early feudal Japanese government. It was established in 702
702
Year 702 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 702 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Franconian Duke Hetan II completes the...
by the Code of Taihō.
In the ranks of the Imperial bureaucracy, the Sangi came between the Shōnagon
Shōnagon
Shōnagon was a counselor of the third rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court of Japan from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
(minor councillors) and those with more narrowly defined roles, such as the Sadaiben and Udaiben who were the administrators charged with oversight of the eight ministries of the government.
In an early review of the Imperial hierarchy, Julius Klaproth
Julius Klaproth
Julius Heinrich Klaproth , German linguist, historian, ethnographer, author, Orientalist and explorer. As a scholar, he is credited along with Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat, with being instrumental in turning East Asian Studies into scientific disciplines with critical methods.-Chronology:Klaproth was...
's 1834 supplement to Nihon Odai Ichiran
Nihon Odai Ichiran
is a 17th century chronicle of the serial reigns of Japanese emperors with brief notes about some of the noteworthy events or other happenings.According to the 1871 edition of the American Cyclopaedia, the translation of Nihon Ōdai Ichiran in 1834 was one of very few books about Japan; and it was...
conflated the hierarchical position with a functional role as the director of palace affairs.
Prominent among those holding this office were three brothers:
- Fujiwara no FusasakiFujiwara no FusasakiFujiwara no Fusasaki was a member of the Fujiwara clan and the founder of the Hokke branch of the Fujiwara.-Career:Fusasaki was a Sangi in the Daijō-kan....
held the office of Sangi until he died in 737 (TenpyōTenpyo, also romanized as Tempyō, was a after Jinki and before Tenpyō-kanpō. This period spanned the years from August 729 through April 749. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
9, 4th month) - Fujiwara no MaroFujiwara no Marowas a Japanese statesman, courtier, and politician during the Nara period.-Career:Maro was a minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu....
held the office of Sangi until he died in 737 (Tenpyō 9, 7th month) - Fujiwara no UmakaiFujiwara no Umakaiwas a Japanese statesman, courtier, general and politician during the Nara period.-Career:He was a diplomat during the reign of Empress Genshō; and he was minister during the reign of Emperor Shōmu...
held the office of Sangi until he died in 737 (Tenpyō 9, 8th month)
The position was eliminated in 1885.
Sangi in context
Any exercise of meaningful powers of court officials in the pre-Meiji periodMeiji 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 :...
reached its nadir during the years of the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
, and yet the core structures of 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"...
government did manage to endure for centuries.
In order to appreciate the office of Sangi, 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 Sangi 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.
Highest Daijō-kan officials
The highest positions in the court hierarchy can be cataloged. 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).
- SadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central...
(Minister of the Left). - UdaijinUdaijinUdaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
(Minister of the Right). - Naidaijin (Minister of the Center).
The next highest tier of officials were:
- DainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
(Major counselor). There are commonly three Dainagon; sometimes more. - ChūnagonChunagonwas a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705...
(Middle counselor). - ShōnagonShōnagonShōnagon was a counselor of the third rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court of Japan from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
(Minor counselor); there are commonly three Shōnagon.
Other high ranking bureaucrats who function somewhat flexibly within the Daijō-kan were;
- Sangi (Associate counselor). This office functions as a manager of Daijō-kan activities within the palace. (Secretariat). These are specifically named men who act at the sole discretion of the emperor. Among the duties of the Geki include writing out the patents and titles conferred by the emperor. In cases of dispute between high officers, the Geki draft a statement of the case for both sides. Also, they look after any newly-introduced business.
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:
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The specific ministries above are not grouped arbitrarily. The two court officials below had responsibility for them as follows: This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries: Center, Civil Services
Ministry of Civil Services (Ritsuryō)
The was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period...
, Ceremonies
Ministry of Ceremonies (Ritsuryō)
The was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto), and it is sometimes identified as the "Ministry of the Interior"....
, and Taxation
Ministry of Taxation (Ritsuryō)
The was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.-Overview:...
. This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries: Military
Ministry of the Military (Ritsuryō)
The , also known as Ministry of War and sometimes called Tsuwamono no Tsukasa, was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period...
, Justice
Ministry of Justice (Ritsuryō)
The was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.-Overview:...
, Treasury
Ministry of the Treasury (Ritsuryō)
The was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period. -Overview:...
and Imperial Household.
See also
- Daijō-kan
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