Shishoku (English spelling)

Japanese: 使職 - ししょく（英語表記）shì zhí

A general term for government positions that played important roles mainly during the Tang and Song dynasties in China. The use of the title "so-and-so envoy" for those dispatched temporarily as special envoys from the emperor began in the Han dynasty. In the 7th century, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty, a succession of envoys with special military and financial missions were created, such as Jiedushi, Zuyongshi, and Shiotetsushi. Furthermore, in inverse proportion to the central government becoming a mere formality, it became common for the emperor to give the title of envoy to his direct eunuchs and assign them to various missions. These envoys were active from the mid-Tang to the Five Dynasties as officials outside the system of three ministries and six departments.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国，唐･宋時代を中心に重要な役割をになった官職の総称。皇帝の特使として臨時に派遣される者の肩書に〈某々使者〉とつけることは漢代に始まる。7世紀，唐の玄宗時代になると，節度使，租庸使，塩鉄使など軍事･財政の特別任務を帯びた使職がつぎつぎと置かれた。さらに中央政府の形骸化と反比例して，皇帝が直属の宦官に使名を与えて各種の任務につかせることが一般化する。これら使職は三省六部体系のいわば令外（りようげ）の官として，唐中期から五代にかけて活躍した。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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