TaihÅ Code
The Taiho Code (Japanese大 宝 律令Taiho - ritsuryō ) was the result of an administrative reform in 701 at the beginning of the so-called Taiho period in Japan, marking the end of the Asuka period. The Code was one of the ritsuryō (律令). Like many other developments in Japan this time, he was heavily influenced by the system of government prevailing in China Tang Dynasty. It was one of the first cases that ideas of Confucianism played an important role in Japanese ethics and government regulations.
The original version of the legislation work was lost in the course of time.
He was 718 revised in the Nara period, to meet the Japanese traditions and the practical needs of the management more effectively. The revised edition was called Yoro- ritsuryō (养老 律令). For some parts of the legislative work of Chinese logic and morality, however, were driven to extremes.
This piece of legislation contains only two major deviations from the Tang model.
First of all government positions and class status were determined after birth, as it had been in the Japanese tradition always - not on the capabilities such as ( so the theory goes ) in China. Second, the Japanese rejected the Chinese concept of a mandate of heaven, because according to Japanese tradition results in the power of the Japanese emperor alone from his lineage, not from his ability or justice as a ruler.
Governmental organization
The body of law established two branches of government: the Jingi -kan (range of worship ) and the Daijō -kan ( area of the state ). The Jingi -kan was the higher-order area over the Daijō -kan and dealt with all spiritual, religious and ritual affairs. The Daijō -kan treated mundane administrative matters.
The Jingi -kan was for the annual festivals ( matsuri ) and official court ceremonies such as coronations, as well as responsible for the entertainment of Shinto shrines, the discipline of the guards cry, recording and monitoring of oracles and prophecies. Although he managed all Shinto shrines in the country, he had no connections to Buddhism and Buddhist temples.
The Daijō -kan treated all worldly affairs and was led by the Great Council of State, headed by the Daijō daijin stood ( Chancellor ). The Minister for the left and right ( Sadaijin and Udaijin ), the inspectors to the left and to the right ( Sadaiben and Udaiben ), four large councils ( Dainagon ) and three small councils ( Shonagon ) over the council, which was responsible for the Daijō daijin. The eight government ministries presented alternately inspectors and ministers to the left and to the right. Furthermore, it was noted which princes or court rank of the respective incumbents had to have.
Provinces and administrative
The country was divided into provinces ( kuni ) and the central government appointed administrators - Kokushi or kuni no tsukasa - for each province. The provinces were further Kori or gun into districts, by local officials - have been managed - Gunji and Kori no tsukasa. These were mainly responsible for maintaining the peace, collect taxes, to recruit workers for unpaid work on government projects, to keep records of the population and land distribution. The further subdivision of the districts differed greatly, but often consisted of groups of about 50 families who were led by a chief.
The number of provinces was not certain. With the conquest and colonization of new lands new provinces created. At the time of entry into force of the Code, there were 66 provinces with a total of 592 districts.
Source
- George Sansom: A History of Japan to 1334 Stanford University Press, Stanford / Cal 1958..
- Historic legal source ( Japan)
- 701