Nobleman - Kugyo

This title is derived from the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers (Sankou Kyukei), officials of the Zhou Dynasty in China. They are also called Kandachime, Keisho, Gekkei, and Odoromichi. In general, the Three Dukes (Taishi, Taifu, and Taiho) were given to the Grand Minister of State, the Left Minister, and the Right Minister, while the Nine Ministers (Shoshi, Shaofu, Shaobao, Chosai, Situ, Sohaku, Sima, Shikou, and Sikong) were given to councilors and high-ranking officials of the third rank or higher. Under the ryo system, the official positions were Minister and Dainagon, and the ranks were those of Junior Third Rank or higher, but later included the non-ryoge positions of Sessho, Kanpaku, Naidaijin, Chunagon, and Sangi, and Sangi of the fourth rank as well. Kugyo were divided into incumbent and absentee. According to "Kugyo Bunin," officials who had once held the rank of Sangi or higher are described as former Dainagon or former Sangi, but officials who held the rank of Junior Third Rank or higher but did not become Sangi are described as non-Sangi. In 758 (Tenpyo Hoji 2), the titles of the Grand Minister of State were changed to Daishi, the Left Minister to Daifu, the Right Minister to Taiho, and the Grand Counselor to Gyotaifu, but in 764 after the death of Fujiwara no Nakamaro, they were reverted to their former titles.

[Naohiko Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国周(しゅう)の官、三公九卿(さんこうきゅうけい)に由来する名辞。上達部(かんだちめ)、卿相(けいしょう)、月卿(げっけい)、棘路(きょくろ)（おどろのみち）ともいう。一般に三公（太師(たいし)、太傅(たいふ)、太保(たいほ)）は太政(だいじょう)大臣、左大臣、右大臣に、九卿（少師、少傅、少保、冢宰(ちょうさい)、司徒(しと)、宗伯(そうはく)、司馬(しば)、司寇(しこう)、司空(しくう)）は参議、三位(さんみ)以上の高官にあてた。令(りょう)制では官職は大臣、大納言(だいなごん)、位階は従(じゅ)三位以上をさすが、のちには令外(りょうげ)の摂政(せっしょう)、関白、内大臣、中納言、参議をも含み、四位の参議もまたこれに入る。公卿には現任と散位(さんに)との別がある。『公卿補任(ぶにん)』によれば、散位のうち一度でも参議以上になったことのある官人は、前(さきの)大納言、前参議などと書いているが、位は従三位以上でも、参議にもならない官人の場合は、非参議と表現している。758年（天平宝字2）太政大臣を大師、左大臣を大傅、右大臣を大保、大納言を御史大夫(ぎょしたいふ)と改称したが、藤原仲麻呂(なかまろ)没後の764年に至り、それぞれ旧号に復した。

［渡辺直彦］

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