Observation envoy - Observation officer

One of the Ryogen no Kan (officials outside the legal system). They observed the achievements of various provinces and reported on the status of local government officials' work. In 806 (Daido 1) during the reign of Emperor Heizei, these envoys were placed in the Rokudo regions and issued envoy seals. The staff consisted of one inspector, one judge, and one chief clerk, with a three-rank system, and the chief inspector was also held by a councilor. In the following year, 807, the title of councilor was abolished and the title was changed to inspector, who was placed in Kinai and the Shichido regions and given a food allowance of 200 households. The envoys of the Tokaido at that time were Fujiwara no Kadonomaro, the envoy of the Saikaido Fujiwara no Tadanushi, the envoy of the Sanindo Sugano no Mamichi, the envoy of the Sanyodo Fujiwara no Sonohito, the envoy of the Kinai region Fujiwara no Otsugu, the envoy of the Hokurikudo Akishino no Yasuhito, the envoy of the Nankaido Kibi no Izumi, and the envoy of the Tosando Abe no Shigeo. Later, in the 810th year of the reign of Emperor Saga, the title of councilor was restored and the position of inspector was abolished. This period lasted only four years.

[Naohiko Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

令外官(りょうげのかん)の一つ。諸国の治績を観察し、地方官の執務状況を報告した。平城(へいぜい)天皇の806年（大同1）六道にこの使を置き、使印を頒給(はんきゅう)した。その職員は観察使1人、判官(じょう)1人、主典(さかん)1人の三等官制をとり、長官(かみ)の観察使は参議が兼任した。翌807年参議の号を廃して観察使と称し、畿内(きない)および七道に置き、食封(じきふ)200戸を支給した。このときの東海道使は藤原葛野麻呂(かどのまろ)、西海道使藤原縄主(ただぬし)、山陰道使菅野真道(すがののまみち)、山陽道使藤原園人(そのひと)、畿内使藤原緒嗣(おつぐ)、北陸道使秋篠安人(あきしののやすひと)、南海道使吉備泉(きびのいずみ)、東山道使安倍兄雄(あべのしげお)である。その後、嵯峨(さが)天皇の810年（弘仁1）に至り、もとのごとく参議の号を復し、観察使を廃止した。その間わずかに4年であった。

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