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During the Heian period, this was a ceremony to offer the first fruits of tributes from various provinces to the tombs of the Emperor and his maternal relatives (the Ten Imperial Tombs and Eight Tombs) on an auspicious day at the end of the year. The messengers sent to the tombs were called "messengers in front of the tombs." On the day, the Emperor appears at the aku in front of the Kenreimon Gate, and ministers and below also attend, and offerings are laid out on the aku. After the Emperor bows, the messengers receive the offerings and offer them at each tomb. For the Yamashinayama mausoleum (Emperor Tenji), only those of Chunagon or higher were allowed to serve, while for the others, those of Sangi or higher, fourth or fifth rank, Udoneri, and Daitonari served as messengers. The Emperor no longer appeared at the tombs at the end of the Heian period, and by the Middle Ages, it is no longer seen to have been held.

[Yutaka Yamanaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安時代、諸国からの貢ぎ物として届けられた初穂を、年末の吉日に天皇および外戚(がいせき)の墓（十陵八墓）に献ずる儀式。その墓につかわされる使者を荷前の使(つかい)という。当日は天皇が建礼門前の幄(あく)に出御され、大臣以下も列席、その幄舎に幣帛(へいはく)が並べられる。天皇の拝ののち、使いがこれを受け、各陵墓に供える。使いは山科(やましな)山陵（天智(てんじ)天皇）のみは中納言(ちゅうなごん)以上、その他は参議以上、四位、五位、内舎人(うどねり)、大舎人などが務めた。平安末には天皇の出御もなくなり、中世になると行われたようすはみえない。

［山中　裕］

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