University dormitory

One of the government offices established under the Ritsuryo system. It was under the control of the Ministry of Ceremonies. It was a central institution for training officials. Its origins date back to the reign of Emperor Tenji, but the system and organization were established when the Taiho Code was enacted. The administrative officials were the four ranks of officials, head, assistant, subordinate, and subordinate, and lower-ranking officials (shibu). The instructors were one Hakase and one assistant Hakase (assistant teacher under the Yoro Code) for the main course (Myogyo-do), two Hakase each for calligraphy and mathematician, and they taught 400 students, a few shosei, and 30 mathematicians. The On Hakase taught the aforementioned students Chinese pronunciation, but there were no specialized Onsei. In the mid-Nara period, Myobodo and Monjodo (Kidendo) were separated from the main course, and after the Heian period, they were called Shido together with Myokeido and Sando. Students were recruited from the descendants of those of 5th rank or higher, the children of Yamatokawachi no Fuhitobe, and sometimes from those of 8th rank or higher, but in all cases they were limited to those aged 13 to 16 who were intelligent. If students graduated within nine years and passed the national examination, they were given a rank according to their course and grades, and were able to enter the government, but the ranks were generally lower than the On'i, so it was rare for the children of aristocrats to study at university. However, there were many children of government officials of 6th rank or lower who studied at university and made a name for themselves as bureaucrats, writers, and scholars.

[Hiromichi Mayuzumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

令(りょう)制官司の一つ。式部省(しきぶしょう)の被管(ひかん)。中央における官吏養成機関。起源は天智(てんじ)朝にさかのぼるが、制度・機構の整備は大宝(たいほう)令制定のとき。事務官は頭(かみ)、助(すけ)、允(じょう)、属(さかん)の四等(しとう)官とそれ以下の下級官吏（使部(しぶ)）。教官は本科（明経道(みょうぎょうどう)）に博士(はかせ)、助博士（養老(ようろう)令で助教）各1人、書道、算道に博士各2人、それぞれ学生(がくしょう)（400人）、書生（若干名）、算生（30人）を教育した。音(おん)博士は前述の諸生に漢音を教授したが、専門の音生(おんせい)はいなかった。奈良中期に本科から明法道(みょうぼうどう)、文章道(もんじょうどう)（紀伝道）の二道が分離独立し、平安以降、明経道、算道とあわせて四道(しどう)とよばれた。学生は5位以上の子孫、東西史部(やまとかわちのふひとべ)の子、ときに8位以上の子から採用したが、いずれも13～16歳で聡令(そうれい)な者に限られた。9年以内に卒業し国家試験に合格すると、コースと成績に応じて位階が授けられ、官途につくことができたが、その位階は概して蔭位(おんい)より低かったから、貴族の子弟で大学に学ぶ者はまれであった。しかし、6位以下の官人の子弟で大学に学び官僚、文人、学者として名をなした者は多い。

［黛　弘道］

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