Court Titles

Court Titles

• • See also: Imperial Titles, Provincial Titles, Be, Uji, Sesshō and Kampaku
    

This pages serves to list the various Court Titles used in the past and up to this day.

No doubt this page will continue to be updated as we continue our research.

Daijin

• • Daijin – From 645AD this was the Title for State Ministers. After 702 they came under the control of the dajō daijin (Grand minister of State). From 1885 the Grand Council of State comprised of 10 daijin. This role was a part of the Daijōkan.¹
  • See also, Sadaijin, Naidaijin, Udajin.

Dainaiki

• • Dainaiki – A title which existed prior to 702 for the Secretary of the Nakatsukasashō (Ministry of Central Imperial Affairs).¹

Dajō daijin

• • Dajō daijin – (Grand Ministers of State) This title was formed in 671 and after 702 those holding this position directed the Daijin. This role was a part of the Daijōkan.¹

Dainagon

• • Dainagon – This tile came into use in 702, and bestowed to ‘Government Counselors.’ Prior to this, the post had been known as Oi-monomōsu-tsukasa.¹

The Five Daibu

• • This was a title mentioned during the reign of Emperor Suinin and related to Takenu Kahawake, Hikokunifuku, Ohokashima, Tochine no Ōmuraji and Takehi.³

Nagon

• • Nagon – A former title for Secretary of State. They were ranked below the Udaijin and Sadaijin. There were three classes of Nagon. Dainagon (large) Chūnagon middle and Shōnagon small. This role was a part of the Daijōkan.¹
  • See also, Dainagon.

Naidaijin

• • Naidaijin – (Minister of Domestic Affairs) Also known as Naijin, Naifu, Uchi no Otoko or Uchi no ō-ōmi. People with this post assisted the Udajin and Saidaijin.¹ This position was originally a Ryōge no Kan (Auxilary Government Post) which was not prescribed by the Taiho Code as part of the Ritsuryo System. Fujiwara no Kamatari was the first to hold this post in 669. After Fujiwara no Michitaka in 989 this position became permanent. This position worked directly underneath the Saidaijin and Udaijin and was previously called Inner Minister (uchi-tsuomo).²

Sadaijin

• • Sadaijin – (Minister of the Left), also known as Ichi no Kami. Their rank was between the Udaijin and Dajō daijin.¹

Udajin

• • Udajin – (Minister of the Right)¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

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