Misplaced Pages

#839160

15-558: 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. The ambit of the Ministry's activities encompasses, for example: The ministry

30-626: A major part in compiling these edicts which in essence founded the Japanese imperial system and government. The ruler according to these edicts was no longer a clan leader but Emperor (in Japanese, Tennō ), who exercised absolute authority. The reform was much inspired by the Japanese missions to China in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and sought to emulate China's system of centralized imperial control and Confucianism . From today's vantage point,

45-485: A prestigious Ministry of Deities . Locally, the country was reorganized into 66 imperial provinces and 592 counties, with appointed governors . Subjects were to be surveyed, land was to be nationalized and redistributed, and private weapons were to be stored in government armories. A land tax, military service and labor obligations were instituted on subjects. A permanent capital was also established in Nara , emulating

60-592: The Chinese writing system , literature , religion , and architecture , to even dietary habits at this time. Even today, the impact of the reforms can still be seen in contemporary Japanese cultural life. After the regency of Shōtoku Taishi ended, the Soga clan , from which Shōtoku's ancestry was derived, took hegemony of the Yamato court . The clan was opposed to Shōtoku's son Yamashiro Ōe and killed him in 643. Under

75-720: The law include the Taihō (Great Law) Code written in 702, consisting of criminal and administrative laws modeled after Tang China, leading to the ritsuryō system. New offices created include that of the Daijō daijin (chancellor), who presided over the Dajōkan (Grand Council of State), which included the Minister of the Left , the Minister of the Right , eight central government ministries, and

90-543: The Imperial Prince Naka no Ōe , issued a series of reform measures that culminated in the Taika Reform Edicts in 646. At this time, two scholars, Takamuko no Kuromaro and priest Min (who had both accompanied Ono no Imoko in travels to Sui China , where they stayed for more than a decade), were assigned to the position of Kuni no Hakase (国博士; National doctorate). They were likely to take

105-453: The Navy . The Asuka-, Nara- and Heian-period Imperial court hierarchy encompassed a ministry dealing with military affairs. In the 18th century, the top ritsuryō officials within this ministry structure were: Taika Reforms The Taika Reforms ( 大化の改新 , "Taika no Kaishin , Reformation of Taika") were a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku (孝徳天皇 Kōtoku tennō ) in

120-460: The Taika Reform is seen as a coherent system in which a great many inherently dissonant factors have been harmonized, but the changes unfolded in a series of successive steps over the course of many years. The major objective was to reassert imperial authority through reorganizing the government, including abolishing the kabane hereditary title system previously in place. A major reform on

135-412: The era of " Taika " (大化), or "Great Reform". The Reform began with land reform , based on Confucian ideas and philosophies from Tang China , but the true aim of the reforms was to bring about greater centralization and to enhance the power of the imperial court, which was also based on the governmental structure of China. Envoys and students were dispatched to China to learn seemingly everything from

150-532: The grid system of Tang China 's capital Xi'an . An exam system was also established, although unlike in China, it was open only to those from noble families. The role of women became much more restricted in Japan, especially in official domains, in emulation of China. The Reform Edicts severely curtailed the independence of regional officials and constituted the imperial court as a place of appeal and complaint about

165-741: The people. In addition, the last edicts attempted to end certain social practices, in order to bring Japanese society more in line with Chinese social practices. A legal code was enacted, with a reformed bureaucracy and law. Nonetheless, powerful clans continue to exercise power in the imperial court and in regional governments. It would take centuries for the conceptual idea of the Chinese-style emperor to take root in Japan. Chinese civilization, including its art, philosophy, literature and architecture, would become much more entrenched in Japan compared to China's system of government. Takamuko no Kuromaro Takamuko no Kuromaro ( 高向 玄理 , died 654)

SECTION 10

#1732791883840

180-571: The reign of Empress Kōgyoku the Soga clan head, Soga no Iruka , was virtually an almighty leader of the court. Those who were against Soga's dictatorship included the emperor's brother Karu , the emperor's son, Prince Naka no Ōe , along with his friend Nakatomi no Kamatari , and his son-in-law Soga no Ishikawamaro (Iruka's cousin). They ended Iruka's regime by a coup d'état in 645 ( Isshi Incident ). As Kōgyoku renounced her throne, Karu ascended to be Emperor Kōtoku . The new emperor, together with

195-590: The year 645. They were written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku and the defeat of the Soga clan (蘇我氏 Soga no uji ), uniting Japan . The reforms also artistically marked the end of the Asuka period and the beginning of the Hakuhō period . Crown Prince Naka no Ōe (the future Emperor Tenji ), Nakatomi no Kamatari , and Emperor Kōtoku jointly embarked on the details of the Reforms. Emperor Kōtoku then announced

210-637: Was a Japanese scholar and diplomat of the Asuka period . Karumauro traveled to China with Ono no Imoko as kenzuishi representing Empress Suiko in 608. He remained in China for thirty-two years. Following his return in 640, he was awarded the title Kuni no hakase (国博士, "National Scholar"). Karumauro helped write the Taika Reforms in 645. He was sent again as an ambassador to China ( kentōshi ). Takamuko died upon his arrival in Chang'an in 654. This biographical article related to Japan

225-674: Was established as part of the Taika Reforms and Ritsuryō laws which were initiated in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period . After 702, the Hyōbu-shō replaced the Hyōseikan, which was created in 683. In the Edo period , titles associated with the ministry became ceremonial titles. In the Meiji period , the hyōbu-shō was reorganized into a modern Ministry of War and Ministry of

#839160