Councillor - Sangi

(1) One of the Ryoge no Kan (officials outside the Imperial Court). A nobleman next to Nagon (councillor). Also called Saisho (chief minister), Shoko (chief minister), Hachiza (eight seats), or "Yakura no Tsukasa," it can also be read as "Omatsurigotohito." The title of Sangi was first seen in 702 (Taiho 2) when Otomo no Yasumaro and five others were appointed as councilors in the Imperial Court, but this was a temporary measure. The official title was probably first used in 731 (Tenpyo 3) when Fujiwara no Umakai and six others were appointed. In 807 (Daido 2), the title of Sangi was abolished and Kansatsushi (inspectors) were established, but in 810 (Kōnin 1), the title was restored to its original title. There were seven routes to advance to this position, and the position was selected from among the five official positions of Kurodo no To, Daiben, Sa Chuben, Konoe no Chujo, and Shikibu no Taifu, as well as those who had served as Zuryo in the five provinces and those holding the third rank.

[Naohiko Watanabe]

(2) An important government position from the early Meiji period until the implementation of the cabinet system. In July 1869 (Meiji 2), under the system of official commanders, this position was newly established as a Dajokan position along with the Ministers of the Left and Right and the Dainagon. Like the Dainagon, its duties involved participating in government affairs. In the government reform that accompanied the abolition of the feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures in 1871, the Dajokan position consisted of the Dajodaijin, Nagon, and Seiin. Influential figures from the Satsuma, Choshu, Tosa, and Hizen domains, such as Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Takayoshi, Itagaki Taisuke, and Okuma Shigenobu, were appointed to this position, and they came to hold real power in the government. After the Seikanron Coup in 1873, some of the councilors also held the position of head of each ministry (Kyo), the number of positions increased, and the power of the councilors became even stronger. In 1880, the roles of councilors and the heads of ministries were separated, but the following year they were again held concurrently. With the implementation of the Cabinet system in 1885, the position was abolished along with the abolition of the Dajokan system.

[Masaru Sasaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

(1)令外官(りょうげのかん)の一つ。納言(なごん)に次ぐ公卿(くぎょう)。宰相、相公、八座(はちざ)、「やくらのつかさ」ともいい、「おおまつりごとひと」とも読む。参議の号は、702年（大宝2）大伴安麻呂(おおとものやすまろ)以下5人に朝政に参議させたというのが初見であるが、これは仮の措置であって、正式な官名としては、731年（天平3）藤原宇合(うまかい)以下6人を任命したのに始まるか。807年（大同2）参議の号を廃して観察使(かんさつし)を置いたが、810年（弘仁1）に至り、またもとの参議に復した。この参議に進むには七つのコースがあり、蔵人頭(くろうどのとう)、大弁、左中弁、近衛(このえ)中将、式部大輔(たいふ)の5官のほか、5か国の受領(ずりょう)歴任者と三位の位階をもつもののなかから選ばれた。

［渡辺直彦］

(2)明治初年から内閣制度実施までの政府要職。1869年（明治2）7月の職員令官制で、左右大臣、大納言とともに太政官(だじょうかん)の職として新設された。職掌は大納言と同じく大政に参与するものである。71年廃藩置県に伴う官制改革で、太政大臣、納言と正院(せいいん)を構成。大久保利通(としみち)、木戸孝允(たかよし)、板垣退助(たいすけ)、大隈重信(おおくましげのぶ)ら薩長土肥(さっちょうどひ)藩の実力者が任命され、実質的に政府の実権を握るようになった。73年征韓論政変後は、各省の長官＝卿を兼任する者もあり、定員も増加、参議の権力はより強大化した。80年いったん参議と省の長官が分離されたが、翌年にはふたたび兼任が行われた。85年内閣制度実施で太政官制の廃止とともに廃官となる。

［佐々木克］

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