Chamberlain - Jiju

An official close to the Emperor.

(1) The Taiho Code stipulates that the Chamberlains should be constant attendants to the Emperor, correcting and admonishing him, and should be in charge of "Shui Hoketsu" (picking up what is left behind and making up what is missing). As a result, the Chamberlains were also called Shui Hoketsu. They belonged to the Ministry of Central Affairs, were equivalent to the rank of Ju Goi no Ge, and had a capacity of eight people, three of whom were to hold the position of Shona-gon. Other positions included Ji Chamberlains, who performed chores in front of the Emperor during ceremonies; Sakaban Chamberlains, who served as sake-sake attendants at the Imperial Palace during festivals; and Gi Chamberlains, who served the Emperor at his side during enthronement and New Year's festivals. According to the Engishiki, there were 92 junior chamberlains, 12 sake-keeper chamberlains, and two pseudo-chamberlains on each side, who were assigned to princes and nobles. After the Kurodosho was established during the reign of Emperor Saga, the main duties of the chamberlains were transferred to the Kurodo, and the chamberlain became an honorary position, with some nobles holding both positions.

[Yoshihiko Hashimoto]

(2) In July 1869 (Meiji 2), when the Ministry of the Imperial Household was established, a new system of chamberlains was established, and they were made equivalent to the rank of Shogoi. Until then, the Emperor's entourage had been made up of female court attendants and some court nobles, but with the intention of reforming the Imperial Court to completely change such bad customs, upright people other than court nobles, such as Yamaoka Tetsutaro and Takasaki Masakaze, were appointed to the position. In 1875, the system of Jiko (councillor) and in 1877, the system of Jiho (assistant chamberlain) were established, and together with the Grand Chamberlain and Chamberlain, they served the Emperor on various matters and in his education. In the revision of the Imperial Household Ministry system in 1886, the Grand Chamberlain became an official of imperial appointment, and the Chamberlain was made an official of sonin. Currently, there are three ranks of chamberlain, the Grand Chamberlain, the Vice Grand Chamberlain, and the Chamberlain, as well as the Togu Chamberlain, who is a close attendant to the Crown Prince, who is an employee of the Imperial Household Agency of the Cabinet Office.

[Masaru Sasaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

天皇側近の官。

(1)大宝令(たいほうりょう)には、天皇の側近に常侍して正し諫(いさ)め、「拾遺補闕(しゅういほけつ)」（遺(のこ)れるを拾い、闕(か)けたるを補う意）を任とすると規定する。これにより侍従を拾遺あるいは補闕とも称した。中務(なかつかさ)省に属し、従(じゅ)五位下を相当位とし、定員8人で、うち3人は少納言(しょうなごん)が兼帯すると定められた。ほかに儀式のとき御前の雑事を勤める次(じ)侍従、節会(せちえ)のとき殿上で勧盃(けんぱい)の役などを勤める酒番(さかばん)侍従、即位および元日節会(がんにちのせちえ)のとき天皇の側に侍立する擬(ぎ)侍従などがある。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』には、次侍従は92人、酒番侍従は12人とするとみえ、擬侍従は左右各2人で、親王や公卿(くぎょう)をあてた。嵯峨(さが)天皇のとき蔵人(くろうど)所が置かれてから、侍従の主要な職務は蔵人に移り、侍従は名誉職化して、公卿が兼帯する例も生まれた。

［橋本義彦］

(2)1869年（明治2）7月、宮内(くない)省の設置とともに侍従の官制も新しく制定され、正五位相当官となった。それまで天皇の周辺は、女官と一部の公卿によって固められていたが、そうした弊習を一新する宮廷改革の意図もあって、山岡鉄太郎、高崎正風(まさかぜ)ら公家(くげ)以外の、剛直な人物が選任された。75年侍講(じこう)、77年侍補(じほ)の制度ができ、侍従長、侍従とともに天皇の諸用、教養に奉仕することになった。86年改正宮内省官制で侍従長は勅任、侍従は奏任の官となる。現在は内閣府宮内庁の職員で、侍従長、侍従次長、侍従の3階級、および皇太子に近侍する東宮(とうぐう)侍従がある。

［佐々木克］

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