Chusenshi - Chusenshi

Japanese: 鋳銭司 - ちゅうせんし

This was one of the Ryoge no Kan (official offices outside the Ritsuryo system) that was temporarily established when minting coins. It was dissolved when the required amount was minted. It can also be read as "jusenshi" or "juzen no tsukasa." The staff consisted mainly of the chief (kami), vice chief (suke), judge (jo), chief scribe (sakan), and historian (shijo), as well as coin minters, coin mold makers, ironworkers, woodworkers, casters, and other technical personnel. It was first established in the 8th year of the reign of Empress Jitō (694) and again in the 3rd year of the reign of Emperor Bunmu (699). After the minting of the Wado Kaichin in 708, coin minting became popular and was established in Omi, Kawachi, Yamashiro, Nagato, Suo, and other areas. In 818, the Nagato kokushi was renamed the coin minting envoy, and in 835, a coin minting office was established in Suo. During the Heian period, it seems that minting was limited to Nagato and Suo.

Casting coins

Please see the "Chuzenji" page.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

律令制時代の令外官 (りょうげのかん) の一つで，銭貨鋳造の際，臨時におかれた役所。必要額を造り終えると解散した。「じゅせんし」「じゅぜんのつかさ」とも読む。職員はおおむね長官 (かみ) ，次官 (すけ) ，判官 (じょう) ，主典 (さかん) ，史生 (しじょう) のほか，鋳銭師，造銭型師，鉄工，木工，鋳手などの技術者で構成されていた。初見は持統8 (694) 年で，文武3 (699) 年にもおかれた。和銅1 (708) 年の和同開珎 (かいちん) の鋳造以後，銭貨鋳造が盛んとなり，近江，河内，山城，長門，周防などに設置され，弘仁9 (818) 年長門国司を改めて鋳銭使とし，承和2 (835) 年周防に設けられ，平安時代には長門，周防に限られたようである。