Taihō Code

The Code of Taihō (大砲量, Taihōryō) was an administrative reorganization enacted in 702, at the beginning of Japan's Taihō era. Like many other Japanese developments of the time, it was largely adapted from the governmental system of the concurrent Chinese T'ang dynasty. This was one of the first events to establish Confucianism as a significant element in the Japanese code of ethics and government. The Code was revised in 718 to accomodate Japanese traditions and practical necessities of administration; however, for some elements of the Code, Chinese logic and morals were taken to extremes.

The Code contained only two major departures from the T'ang model. First, government positions and class status was based on birth, as had always been the Japanese tradition, not talent, as was the Chinese way. Second, the Japanese rejected the Chinese concept of the "Mandate of Heaven," asserting that the Emperor's power comes from his imperial descent, not from his righteousness or fairness as a ruler.

Governmental Organization

The Code established two branches of government: the Jingi-kan (Department of Worship) and the Dajō-kan(Department of State). The Jingi-kan was the higher branch, taking precedence over the Dajō-kan and handling all spiritual, religious, or ritual matters. The Dajō-kan handled all secular, administrative matters.

The Jingi-kan, or Department of Worship, was responsible for annual festivals and official Court ceremonies such as coronations, as well as the upkeep of shrines, the discipline of shrine wardens, and the recording and observation of oracles and divinations. It is important to note that the department, though it governed all the Shinto shrines in the country, had no connection with Buddhism.

The Dajō-kan, or Department of State, handled all secular matters and was headed by the Great Council of State, which was presided over by the Dajō-daijin (Chancellor). The Ministers of the Left and Right (Sadaijin and Udaijin respectively), Controllers of the Left and Right (Sadaiben and Udaiben), four Great Councillors (Dainagon) and three Minor Councillors (Shōnagon) made up the Council, and were responsible to the Dajō-daijin. The eight government Ministries were, in turn, responsible to the Controllers and Ministers of the Left and Right.

Provincial Organization & Administration

The country was divided into provinces called kuni, and the central government appointed administrative governors called kami to each province. The provinces were further divided into districts called gun or kōri, which were administered by locally appointed officials called gunshi. These local officials were primarily responsible for keeping the peace, collecting taxes, recruiting labor for the corveé, and for keeping registers of population and land allotment. Within the districts' further subdivisions, local organization varied greatly, but often resembled the arrangement of a township of fifty or so homes led by a headman.

The number of provinces was not fixed, however. As new land became developed, new provinces came into being. At the time of the Code's enactment, there were sixty-six provinces comprising 592 districts.

Reference

• Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.