Contributor - Koushi

The name given to the councilors presented by the domain to the Imperial Court. "Kou" means "to advance." On January 17, 1868 (Meiji 1), the seven-category system was established, and at the same time the system of "Choushi" and "Koshi" was also established. The number of members was three for large domains with 400,000 koku or more, two for medium domains with 100,000 to 390,000 koku, and one for small domains with 90,000 koku or less. The selection was made by the domain lord, there was no term of office, and they represented the domain's opinions as councilors of the Lower Council (Lower House). In leap April of the same year, when the Dajokan was restored based on the Constitutional Document and Councilors were established, they became councilors of the Lower Bureau, and when the Lower Bureau became the Koushi Countermeasures Office, they became its councilors. Traditionally, domains had Rusuiyaku (rusuiyaku) in charge of foreign negotiations, but in May of the same year, this was merged with the Koushi to become public servants. In August, public officials were separated into public servants, descended from the Rusuiyaku, and public councilors, descended from the Konshi.

[Inoue Isao]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

藩が朝廷へ差し出した議員の呼称。貢とは「すすめる」という意味である。1868年（明治1）正月17日、七科制が置かれると同時に、徴士(ちょうし)、貢士の制が新設された。定員は、40万石以上の大藩から3名、10万石以上39万石までの中藩から2名、9万石以下の小藩から1名、選抜の人事権は藩主にあり、任期はなく、藩論を代表して下の議事所（下議院）の議員となった。同年閏(うるう)4月、政体書に基づき太政官(だじょうかん)が復興されて議政官が置かれると、下局の議員となり、下局が貢士対策所となるとその議員となった。旧来、藩には対外交渉を担当する留守居役(るすいやく)が置かれていたが、同年5月、これと貢士が合併して公務人となった。8月、公務人は留守居役の系譜を引く公用人と、貢士の系譜を引く公議人に分離した。

［井上　勲］

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