Gunji

Under the Ritsuryo system, local officials in charge of county affairs were under the jurisdiction of the kokushi. Before the Taiho Code was enacted, counties were written as hyo, the chief was called hyotoku, the vice chief was called jotoku, and there was a third-class official system with practical staff (after the reign of Emperor Tenmu, this became a fourth-class official system). Hyo officials were also called koori no miyatsuko. After the Taiho Code was enacted, hyo was changed to gun, the chief was called dairyo, the vice chief was called shoryo (called gunryo), and the shusei and shucho were the practical staff, but the number of gunji varied depending on the size of the county. The appointment of Gunri was based on the principle of talent, with those who were upright and capable of handling the current affairs being appointed as Gunri, and those who were skilled in bookkeeping were appointed as Shusei and Shucho. However, due to the Fudai system, the children of traditional local powerful families such as Kuni no Miyatsuko and Agata Nushi were appointed as Gunri by hereditary means. Gunri was a lifelong official, and when appointed, even if they did not hold a rank, they were immediately given the rank of Juhachi-no-jo or Juhachi-no-ge, making them officials of a rank not equivalent to the official rank. Gunri was also given land for their duties, which was greater than that of the Kuni no Kami, and their children were given many privileges, such as preferential admission to national studies. However, Shusei and Shucho did not have such privileges. Furthermore, their status was significantly different from that of Gunri, and it was not easy for them to be promoted to Gunri. The gunji system underwent changes, especially in the method of appointment (saiyo, fudai shugi), but was established as fudai shugi in the early 9th century. From that time, in addition to the shonin gunji, gonnin, ingai, and ginin gunji were appointed, and multiple ginin gunji were appointed per county, but in the 10th century, they were replaced by kokushidai and mokudai, which developed into zaichokanjin from the 11th century onwards. Around that time, the gunji also became one member per county.

[Yusuke Yoneda]

"A Study of Gunji" by Yusuke Yoneda (1976, Hosei University Press)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

律令制(りつりょうせい)下において、国司の管轄下にあって郡務を担当した地方官。大宝令(たいほうりょう)制定以前に郡は評(ひょう)と記し、長官を評督(ひょうとく)、次官を助督(じょとく)といい、実務担当者を置く三等官制であった（天武(てんむ)朝以降四等官(しとうかん)制となる）。なお評の官人を評造(こおりのみやつこ)ともいった。大宝令の施行後、評は郡に改め、長官を大領(だいりょう)、次官を少領（郡領と称す）として、主政、主帳を実務担当者とするが、郡の規模により郡司の定員に差がある。郡領の補任(ぶにん)は、性識清廉にして時務に堪える者を、主政、主帳は書算に巧みな者をあてる才用主義を令の原則としたが、おおむね譜第(ふだい)主義により、国造(くにのみやつこ)や県主(あがたぬし)などの伝統的地方豪族の子弟が世襲的に郡領に補任された。その郡領は終身官で、郡領に補任されると、無位であってもただちに従(じゅ)八位上、従八位下を授けられる官位非相当の官である。また郡領には職分田(しきぶんでん)が与えられるが、大領のそれは国守よりも多く、その子弟は優先的に国学に入学できるなど、多くの特権を与えられた。しかし主政、主帳にはこのような特典はない。それに彼らは身分的に郡領と差異が大きく、郡領に昇進するのも容易ではなかった。郡司制は、とくに補任の方法（才用、譜第主義）をめぐって変遷があったが、9世紀初頭に譜第主義に定着した。そのころから正任郡司のほかに、権任(ごんにん)、員外、擬任(ぎにん)の郡司が置かれ、一郡に複数の擬任郡司が置かれたが、10世紀に入ると国司代、国目代(もくだい)がそれにかわり、それらが11世紀以降の在庁官人へと発展したのである。そのころに郡司も一郡一員制になった。

［米田雄介］

『米田雄介著『郡司の研究』（1976・法政大学出版局）』

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