Imperial seal - Chokufu

Japanese: 勅符 - ちょくふ

One of the document formats stipulated in the Taiho Code. The notes to the Article on Imperial Commands in the Taiho Code stipulate "Imperial Commands and Their Provincial Ranks and Names," and Imperial Commands were issued mainly for matters requiring urgency, such as military affairs and diplomacy. The procedure for issuing Imperial Commands was different from that of normal Imperial Decrees, in that they were prepared by the Magistrates without going through the Ministry of Central Affairs. As an example of the issuance of Imperial Commands under the Taiho Code, an Imperial Command can be seen in the Izumo Kokukeikaicho, which was written during a period of tension with Silla, and in 740 (Tenpyo 12), when many Imperial Commands were issued to government officials and peasants in various provinces under the jurisdiction of Dazaifu.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

大宝令に定められている文書様式の一つ。大宝公式令の符式条の注に〈勅符其国司位姓等〉の規定があり，主として軍事･外交など緊急を要することがらについて勅符が発せられた。発行手続は通常の勅旨と異なって，中務省を経由せず，弁官において作成されるのが特徴であった。大宝令制下における勅符施行の例として，新羅との関係が緊張していた時期の出雲国計会帳に勅符発遣のことが見え，また740年(天平12)の藤原広嗣の乱の際，大宰府管内諸国の官人･百姓等にあてて勅符多数を発給したことが見える。

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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