Ministry of Central Affairs

A central government office stipulated in the ryo system. One of the eight ministries under the Daijokan, it was responsible for the Chugusiki (Chugu Office), the six bureaus of Toneri (Left and Right Chamberlain), Zusho (Books), Kura (Cabinet), Nuidono (Putting Hall), and Onmyo (In and Yang), and the three offices of Etakumi (Painting), Uchinokusuri (Inner Medicine), and Nairai (Inner Ceremony). It was involved in the Emperor's acts of state and government affairs related to the harem, and was particularly responsible for drafting imperial edicts and decrees at the Emperor's discretion, obtaining permission to implement them through petitions, and sending them to the Daijokan after the Kami and Daishosuke have signed them. In the Kiyomihara-ryo (Kiyomihara-ryo), it was called Nakano-tsukasa (Chukan). With officials such as chamberlains, udoneri, naiki, and kenmotsu, they managed the emperor's seal, keys, station bells, seals, and family registers. They served the emperor closely, and their official ranks of kyo and suke were one rank higher than those of other ministries, but from the early Heian period onwards, they began to appoint princes as kyo. In the mid-Nara period, the name was temporarily changed to Shinbusho.

[Mitsuru Yagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

令(りょう)制に規定された中央官司。太政官(だいじょうかん)に属した八省の一つで、中宮職(ちゅうぐうしき)および左右舎人(とねり)・図書(ずしょ)・内蔵(くら)・縫殿(ぬいどの)・陰陽(おんみょう)の6寮、画工(えたくみ)・内薬(うちのくすり)・内礼(ないらい)の3司を管した。天皇の国事行為や後宮(こうきゅう)関係の政務に携わり、とくに詔書・勅旨の作成に関し、天皇の意を受けて起案し、覆奏して施行許可をとり、卿(かみ)・大少輔(だいしょうすけ)が署名のうえ、太政官に送る要務にあたった。浄御原令(きよみはらりょう)では中官(なかのつかさ)とよんだらしい。侍従、内舎人(うどねり)、内記、監物(けんもつ)などの官人を擁して、天皇印、鍵(かぎ)、駅鈴、伝符や戸籍を管理した。天皇に近侍し、卿、輔の官位相当は、他省より一階高かったが、平安初期以後、卿に親王を任ずるようになった。奈良中期、一時信部省(しんぶしょう)と改称した。

［八木　充］

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