Yoro Code - Yoro Code

The basic law code of ancient Japan. The Code consists of 12 volumes: Myorei (Class Precedents), Egon (Prohibition of Guards), Shikisei (Administrative Orders), Family Marriage, Stables, Encouragement, Theft, Lawsuits, Fraud, Miscellaneous, Arrest, and Imprisonment. The Code consists of 30 volumes: Official Ranks, Officials, Harem Officials, Crown Prince Officials, Household Officials, Shinto, Monks and Nuns, Households, Fields, Duties, Education, Selection, Succession, Assessment, Salaries, Palace Guards, Military Defense, Ceremonies, Clothing, Maintenance, Officials, Warehouses, Stables, Medical Illness, Temporary Stay, Funerals, Seki City, Arrest, Prison, and Miscellaneous. Each Code consists of 10 volumes. In 718 (Yoro 2), under the presidency of the Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Fuhito, Yako no Mami, Yamato no Nagaoka, Yazume no Mushimaro, Shioya no Komaro, and Kudara no Hitonari revised the Taiho Code and selected new codes. However, the discussion took place in 722, and some say it was completed during the Yoro era (717-724), so it is unclear when the selection was completed. Moreover, it was not until 757 (Tenpyo Houji 1) that the government was established, when Fuhito's grandson Nakamaro was in power. Comparing the two codes, they were basically limited to correcting deficiencies and contradictions in the provisions, and even if there were changes in content, they were sometimes implemented as individual laws before promulgation. The compilation itself was done by Fuhito with the intention of establishing a new code of conduct that would support the rule of Prince Obito (Emperor Shomu), who was of Fujiwara clan descent, and it is believed that the implementation of the code was intended to honor Fuhito's achievements and strengthen the power of Nakamaro. There were no further large-scale compilations of the code after that, and it lost its effectiveness with the collapse of the Ritsuryo state, but it continued to be valued formally in court society, and the official system continued to exist until the early Meiji period. The entire picture can be known from the "Ritsso", "Ryo no Gige", "Ryo no Shuge" and excerpts.

[Mitsuru Yagi]

"Ritsuryo" (Edited by Inoue Mitsusada and others, "Japanese Thought Series 3", 1976, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本古代の基本法典。律は名例(みょうれい)、衛禁(えごん)、職制(しきせい)、戸婚、厩庫(きゅうこ)、擅興(せんこう)、賊盗、闘訟、詐偽、雑、捕亡、断獄の12篇(へん)。令は官位、職員、後宮職員、東宮職員、家令職員、神祇(じんぎ)、僧尼、戸、田、賦役、学、選叙、継嗣(けいし)、考課、禄(ろく)、宮衛(くえい)、軍防、儀制、衣服、営繕、公式(くしき)、倉庫、厩牧(きゅうもく)、医疾、仮寧(けにょう)、喪葬、関市、捕亡、獄、雑の30篇。律令とも各10巻。718年（養老2）右大臣藤原不比等(ふひと)の主宰のもとで、陽胡真身(やこのまみ)、大和長岡(やまとのながおか)、矢集虫麻呂(やずめのむしまろ)・塩屋古麻呂(しおやのこまろ)、百済人成(くだらのひとなり)が大宝(たいほう)律令を改正し律令を撰定(せんてい)したという。ただその論功を722年に行い、また完成を養老年中（717～724）とする伝えもあって、撰修(せんしゅう)終了はさだかでない。しかも不比等の孫の仲麻呂(なかまろ)が政権をとっていた757年（天平宝字1）ようやく実施となった。両律令を比較すると、基本的には条文上の不備、矛盾を修正するにとどまり、内容上変更があった場合でも、公布前適宜、単行法令として施行することがあった。編修自体、不比等が藤原氏所出の首(おびと)皇子（聖武(しょうむ)天皇）の統治を裏づける新律令の制定をもくろみ、施行には不比等の功を顕彰し、仲麻呂の権勢を強める意図が込められたとみられる。その後、大規模な律令編修はなく、律令国家の崩壊とあわせて効力を失ったが、公家(くげ)社会では引き続いて形式的に重んじられ、官制などは明治初年まで存続した。『律疏(りつそ)』『令義解(りょうのぎげ)』『令集解(りょうのしゅうげ)』や逸文によって、ほぼその全容を知ることができる。

［八木　充］

『井上光貞他校注『律令』（『日本思想大系3』1976・岩波書店）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例