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| Pre-modern Japan |
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Asuka Period • Nara Period • Heian Period • Kamakura period • Kemmu restoration • Muromachi period • Nanboku-chō period • Sengoku period • Azuchi-Momoyama period Edo Period, 1603–1868
Meiji Period, 1868–1912 1868–1871 1875–1881 1885–1889 Heisei period, 1989–present |
The Ministry of the Military (兵部省 Hyōbu-shō) was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto. It was established as part of the Taika Reforms and Ritsuryō laws which were initiated in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period.
This department of government was organized to address matters relating to the supervision of the imperial troops. This part of the bureaucracy has been variously identified as the Ministry of the Military,[1] and the Ministry of War.[2]
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Overview
The highest ranking official or head of the military (兵部卿, Hyōbu-kyō) was ordinarily a son or a close relative of the Emperor. This important court officer was responsible for directing all military matters; and after the beginning in the late 12th century, this military man would have been empowered to work with the shogunate on the emperor's behalf.[1]
The Hyōbu-shō had the following responsibilities:
- Maintenance of the rosters of military officers and their examinations, appointments, and rank.
- Dispatch of troops.
- Keeping track of the status of weapons, guards, fortifications, and signal fires.
- Keeping track of the pastures, military horses, and both public and private horses and cattle.
- Postal stations.
- Manufacture of weapons, and maintenance of the lists of those craftsmen connected to their construction.
- Practice in drumming and flute playing.
- Public and private means of water transport.
- The training of hawks and dogs.[3]
History
In the Edo period, titles associated with the hyōbu-shō, such as Hyōbu-dayū, became ceremonial titles.[3]
In the Meiji period, the hyōbu-shō was reorganized into a modern Ministry of War and Ministry of the Navy.[3]
Hierarchy
The Asuka-, Nara- and Heian-period Imperial court hierarchy encompassed a ministry dealing with military affairs.[4]
In the 18th century, the top ritsuryō officials within this ministry structure were:
- Minister or chief official (兵部卿 Hyōbu-kyō), usually a son or a close relative of the Emperor.[5]
- First assistant to the Minister (兵部大輔 Hyōbu-taifu).[1]
- Second assistant to the Minister (兵部少輔 Hyōbu-shō).[1]
- Senior staff officer (兵部大丞 Hyōbu no dai-jō).[1]
- Junior staff officers (兵部少丞 Hyōbu no shō-jō), two positions.[1]
- Director of dance (隼人正 Hayato no kami), considered a very low rank.[1]
- First assistant director (隼人佑 Hayato no jō).[1]
- Alternate assistant director (隼人令史 Hayato no sakan).[1]
See also
Notes
References
- Kawakami, Karl Kiyoshi. (1903). The Political Ideas of the Modern Japan. Tokyo: Shokwabo.
- Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652], Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.
- Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). [ Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359], Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4
Further reading
- Friday, Karl F. (1992). Hired Swords: the Rise of Private Warrior Power in Early Japan. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 10-ISBN 0-804-71978-0; 13-ISBN 978-0-804-71978-0 (cloth) 10-ISBN 0-804-72696-5; 13-ISBN 978-0-804-72696-2 (paper)
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