Board of Ceremonies
The Master of Ceremonies (治部卿, Jibu-kyō) is one of the major positions in the Japanese Imperial Household Agency. The function of the Imperial ceremonial master predates the Heian period; and the role continued to be filled continuously since those ancient times. Formerly, the title and position were conferred in the name of the Emperor. In the Japan of today, the Master of Ceremonies is construed as an honor and responsibility conferred by the Prime Minister and the nation's government.
Modern period
The Imperial Household Agency is a government organization considered to be under the Prime Minister. This agency, headed by the Grand Steward, attends to state matters concerning the Imperial House. One of the internal subdivisions of the agency is the Board of the Ceremonies which is headed by the Grand Master of the Ceremonies.[1]
Grand Master of the Ceremonies is charged with assisting in coordinating various court functions held for visiting foreign dignitaries. He is also responsible for such activities as the Imperial Family's State visits to foreign countries.[1]
Assisting the Grand Master are a number of functionaries with specific responsibilities. For example, one of the two Vice-Grand Masters of the Ceremonies is responsible for ceremonies which involve music. The Music Department performs both gagaku, i.e. ancient court music, and the western classical music.[1]
Encompassed within the wide-ranging duties of the Grand Master is ensuring orderly ceremonies for wild-duck netting.[1]
Pre-Meiji period
The Imperial court position of Master of Ceremonies identified the ceremonial expert in the Imperial retinue. The title arose during evolution of governmental reorganizations beginning in 701. These pre-Heian period innovations are collectively known as the ritsuryō-sei (律令制).
The Asuka-, Nara- and Heian-period Imperial court hierarchy encompassed a Ministry of the Ceremonies (治部省,, Jibu-shō); also known as the "Ministry of the Interior"[2] and its head was the Master of Ceremonies or Chief administrator of the Ministry of Ceremonies (治部卿,, Jibu-kyō).[3]
Amongst the significant Daijō-kan officials working with the Master of Ceremonies[4] within a somewhat rigid organizational structure were:
- First assistant to the chief of the ministry of ceremonies (治部大輔,, Jibu-taifu).[4]
- Second assistant to the chief of the ministry of ceremonies (治部少輔,, Jibu-shō).[4]
- Third assistant to the chief of the ministry of ceremonies (治部大丞,, Jibu dai-shō).[4]
- Fourth assistant to the chief of the ministry of ceremonies (治部少丞,, Jibu shō-shō).[4]
- Senior alternate assistant to the chief of the ministry of ceremonies (治部大録,, Jibu no dai-sakan).[4]
- Junior alternate assistant to the chief of the ministry of ceremonies (治部少録,, Jibu no shō-sakan).[4]
- Chief court musician (雅楽頭,, Uta no kami).[4]
- First assistant court musician (雅楽助,, Uta no suke).[4]
- Second assistant court musician (雅楽允,, Uta no jō).[5]
- Alternate assistant court musicians (雅楽属,, Uta no sakan) -- two positions.[5]
- Chief interpreter/diplomat (玄蕃頭,, Genba no kami). This official is charged with receiving ambassadors from China and Korea and serving as interpreters for them.[5]
- First assistant chief interpreter/diplomat (玄蕃介,, Genba no suke).[5]
- Second assistant chief interpreter/diplomat (玄蕃允,, Genba no jō) -- two positions.[5]
- Alternate interpreter/diplomat (玄蕃属,, Genba no sakan) -- two positions.[5]
- Chief inspector of imperial tombs (諸陵頭,, Shoryō no kami) -- two positions.[5]
- First assistant inspector of imperial tombs (諸陵助,, Shoryō no suke) -- two positions.[5]
- Second assistant inspector of imperial tombs (諸陵允,, Shoryō no jō) -- two positions.[5]
- Alternate inspectors of imperial tombs (諸陵属,, Shoryō no sakan) -- two positions.[5]
See also
- Koichi Haraguchi
- Nakatomi clan, Asuka period
Notes
- ^ a b c d Imperial Household Agency: Organization and Functions
- ^ Ministry of Ceremonial, Sheffield.
- ^ Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki, p.272.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 429., p. 429, at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Titsingh, p. 430., p. 430, at Google Books
References
- Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
- Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. 10-ISBN 0-231-04940-4; 13-ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842
External links
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