Shōnagon
Imperial court position in pre-modern Japan / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Shōnagon (少納言) was a counselor of the third rank in the Imperial court of Japan.[1] The role dates to 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.[2] This became a Taihō Code office in the early feudal Japanese government or daijō-kan.
Premodern Japan | |
---|---|
Daijō-daijin | |
Minister of the Left | Sadaijin |
Minister of the Right | Udaijin |
Minister of the Center | Naidaijin |
Major Counselor | Dainagon |
Middle Counselor | Chūnagon |
Minor Counselor | Shōnagon |
Eight Ministries | |
Center | Nakatsukasa-shō |
Ceremonial | Shikibu-shō |
Civil Administration | Jibu-shō |
Popular Affairs | Minbu-shō |
War | Hyōbu-shō |
Justice | Gyōbu-shō |
Treasury | Ōkura-shō |
Imperial Household | Kunai-shō |
In the ranks of the Imperial bureaucracy, the Shōnagon came between the Chūnagon (middle counselors) and the Sangi (associate counselors).[3]
Typically, the office was held by three fifth-rank members of the kuge. These officials were responsible for reading ordinary reports and for making of Imperial travel arrangements.[2] The Shōnagon are said to help the memories of the principal officers, to put seals to deeds, and carry communications to others within the daijō-kan. They are both military and civil.[4]