Any exercise of meaningful powers of court officials in the pre-
Meiji period reached its nadir during the years of the
Tokugawa shogunate, and yet the core structures of
ritsuryō government did manage to endure for centuries. In order to appreciate the office of
Chūnagon, it is necessary to evaluate its role in the traditional Japanese context of a durable yet flexible framework. This was a bureaucratic network and a hierarchy of functionaries. The role of
Chūnagon was an important element in the
Daijō-kan (Council of State). The Daijō-kan
schema proved to be adaptable in the creation of constitutional government in the modern period.
Highest Daijō-kan officials The highest positions in the court hierarchy can be cataloged. A dry list provides a superficial glimpse inside the complexity and inter-connected relationships of the Imperial court structure. •
Daijō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm or Chief Minister). •
Sadaijin (Minister of the Left).). There are commonly three
Dainagon; •
Chūnagon (Middle counselor). •
Shōnagon (Minor counselor); there are commonly three
Shōnagon. This office functions as a manager of
Daijō-kan activities within the palace. •
Ministry of Civil Services; also known as the "Ministry of Legislative Direction and Public Instruction". •
Ministry of Taxation.
Right •
Ministry of the Military. •
Ministry of the Treasury. •
Ministry of the Imperial Household. The specific ministries above are not grouped arbitrarily. The two court officials below had responsibility for them as follows: • This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries:
Center,
Civil Services,
Ceremonies, and
Taxation. • This administrator was charged or tasked with supervising four ministries:
Military,
Justice,
Treasury and
Imperial Household. ==See also==