Ministry of the Treasury
Division of the eighth-century Japanese government
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The Ministry of the Treasury (大蔵省, Ōkura-shō; lit. 'the department of the great treasury') was a division of the eighth-century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto,[1] instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.
| 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 |
Overview
The nature of the ministry was modified in response to changing times. The ambit of the Ministry's activities encompasses, for example:
- administration of public accounts[2]
- oversight of tax collections and of offerings to the Emperor[2]
- regulation of weights and measures[2]
- control of the functuations in prices of commodities[2]
- regulation and oversight of the coinage of gold, silver, copper, and iron money[2]
- maintenance of the lists of artisans engaged in coinage-related activities[2]
- regulation of activities in the manufacture of lacquer ware, weaving, and other kinds of industries[2]
History
The duties, responsibilities and focus of the ministry evolved over time. It was established as part of the Taika Reforms and Ritsuryō laws.[3] Since 1885, Ōkura-shō has been construed in reference to the Ministry of Finance, also called the Ōkura no Tsukasa.[4]
Hierarchy
The court included a ministry dealing with military affairs.[3]
Amongst the significant daijō-kan officials serving in this ministry structure were:
- Chief administrator of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵卿, Ōkura-kyō). This official supervises the receipt of tributes from the provinces and imposes tribute on others.[5]
- Chief administrator of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵大輔, Ōkura-taifu)[5]
- First assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵少輔, Ōkura-shō)[5]
- Second assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵丞, Ōkura-no-jō), two positions[5]
- Alternate assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵録, Ōkura-no-sakan), two positions[5]
- Collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers (織部正, Oribe-no-kami)[5]
- Assistant collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers (織部佑, Oribe-no-jō)[5]
- Alternate assistant collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers (織部令史, Oribe-no-sakan)[5]