Ministry of Ceremonies

One of the eight ministries under the Ritsuryo system. Its Tang name was Ribu. According to the Taiho Code and Yoro Code, its duties included the evaluation and selection of officials and the management of universities. In other words, it was responsible for the performance evaluation and promotion of officials, as well as the training of officials, and played a central role in the management of the Ritsuryo official system. Its staff consisted of one Kami (ranked Sho Shiinoge), one Daisuke and one Shosuke, two Daijo and two Shojo, one Daisakan and three Shoroku, 20 Shisho, two Shosho, 80 Shibu, and five Jikitei. Its government offices were the Daigakuryo and Sanniryo. The court officials mentioned in the Tenchi and Tenmu chapters of the Nihon Shoki are thought to be the predecessor of the Ministry of Ceremonies. In 812 (Kōnin 3), 30 shosei (scholars) were appointed. After Prince Iyo was appointed Minister of Ceremonies during the Enryaku era (782-806), it became customary for princes to be appointed to the position.

[Yutaro Yanagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

令(りょう)制官司のうちの八省の一つ。唐名は吏部(りぶ)。大宝(たいほう)令・養老(ようろう)令によると、職掌は官人の考課・選叙および大学の運営など。すなわち、官吏の勤務評定や叙位、官吏の養成などを管轄し、律令官人制の運営に中枢的な役割を果たした。職員は、卿(かみ)1人（正(しょう)四位下）、大輔(だいすけ)・少輔各1人、大丞(だいじょう)・少丞各2人、大録(だいさかん)1人・少録3人、史生(ししょう)20人、省掌(しょうしょう)2人、使部(しぶ)80人、直丁(じきてい)5人。所管官司は大学寮と散位(さんに)寮。『日本書紀』の天智(てんじ)・天武(てんむ)紀にみえる法官は、式部省の前身官司と考えられる。812年（弘仁3）に書生(しょせい)30人が置かれた。延暦(えんりゃく)年中（782～806）伊予(いよ)親王が式部卿に任じられてからは、おおむね卿には親王が任じられるのが通例となった。

［柳雄太郎］

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