Naishi -

The Naishi no Tsukasa, an official in the Imperial harem, mainly referred to as Naishi no Suke and Shoji, but from the late Heian period onwards, the term came to refer only to Shoji. The Naishi no Tsukasa was a constant attendant to the emperor, responsible for petitions, publicity and court ceremonies, but from the Heian period onwards, it became the main female office of the Imperial harem. From the mid-Heian period onwards, positions called Naishi were placed for the retired emperor, the three empresses and the Saigū, and they were called Chūgū no Naishi and Saigū no Naishi. It also seems that female officials called Naishi were placed in the Naishidokoro (the place where the sacred treasures of Unmeiden were kept, as well as the office and work facility for female officials). Under the ryō system, there were four Naishi no Suke and four Shoji, but from the Heian period onwards, gonnin were added. The Kinpi Sho records that the first chief attendant was called Koto no Naishi, but in early modern times he was called Nagahashi-dono or Nagahashi Tsubone, after his subordinate, Zoushi.

[Nobuo Kuroita]

"The Japanese Harem" by Tsunoda Fumiei (1973, Gakutosha)" "Study of the Harem and Ladies in the Heian Period" by Suda Haruko (1982, Chiyoda Shobo)" "Newly Revised Explanation of Official Positions" by Wada Eimatsu, edited by Tokoro Isao (Kodansha Academic Library)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

後宮の官司である内侍司(ないしのつかさ)の、おもに典侍(ないしのすけ)・掌侍(ないしのじょう)を内侍と称するが、平安後期以降は掌侍のみをさすようになる。内侍司は天皇に常侍し、奏請・宣伝や宮中の礼式等を掌(つかさど)る司であったが、平安時代以後は後宮の女司の中心となった。平安中期以降には上皇・三后・斎宮などに内侍と称する職が置かれ、中宮内侍・斎宮内侍等とよばれる。また内侍所(ないしどころ)（温明殿(うんめいでん)の神器安置の場所。また女官の詰所・執務機関）にも内侍という女官が置かれたらしい。令(りょう)制では典侍4人、掌侍4人であるが、平安時代以後は権任(ごんにん)が加わった。『禁秘(きんぴ)抄』に第一の掌侍を勾当内侍(こうとうのないし)と称することが記されるが、近世ではその曹司(ぞうし)にちなんで長橋殿(ながはしどの)・長橋局(つぼね)とよんだ。

［黒板伸夫］

『角田文衛著『日本の後宮』（1973・学燈社）』▽『須田春子著『平安時代後宮及び女司の研究』（1982・千代田書房）』▽『和田英松著、所功校訂『新訂官職要解』（講談社学術文庫）』

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