Monograph No. 22
MEMOIRS OF THE NARA NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CULTURAL PROPERTIES NUMBER Ⅱ
CONTENTS
1) Kogogushikiron
By Kito, Kiyoaki 1
2) Wooden Tablets Described in Literature during the Nara and Heian Periods
By Tono, Haruyuki 39
3) Study of Nara Imperial Palace’s Dairi, Chugu and Saigu
By Abe, Gihei 69
4) Material for Historical Research: “Chugero Kendan no Hikitsuke,” a Historical Document Kept at the Yakushiji Temple
By Tanaka, Minoru 93
LIST OF PLATES
PL. I Wooden Tablets stored with Shosoin Treasures
Shosoin documents using word which mean Wooden Tablets
PL. II Nara Imperial Palace Site A general view from South
Nara Imperial Palace Site Arranged view of main parts from West
SYNOPSIS
Kogogushikiron (Paper on Ancient Government Office that Relayed the Empress’ Orders)
By KITO, Kiyoaki
This paper analyzes the character and functioning of a government office called the Kogogushiki, which was first established in Japan in 729. The office of Kogogushiki was designed to relay the Empress’ orders every time an Empress ascended the throne.
Studies have revealed that the Kogogushiki office not only functioned as such but also had many lower organizations, playing an important role in the everyday operation of the Empress’ office. It has also been found that the office's financial resources included Sho and Fuko, land with inhabitants given to court nobles, making the office rather independent, unlike other court offices in the Nara Period.
Such an office established solely for the Empress did not exist in countries on the Korean Peninsula such as Pekche and Silla. It followed a Chinese system, to be more exact, the Naijisho, or office for the harem in the Tao dynasty.
Just as the Tao dynasty’s Naijisho occupied an important position politically, the Kogogushiki office was regarded as politically important in Japan.
Entering the Heian period, however, the office was scaled down and its political weight was lost.
Wooden Tablets Described in Literature during the Nara and Heian Periods
By TONO, Haruyuki
Wooden tablets used for recording in ancient times have been excavated from historical ruins in various places and are called Mokkan. Factual studies of such tablets have just started. Writings about the Mokkan in literature during the Nara and Heian Periods are valuable to a study of the Mokkan.
For this paper, accounts about the Mokkan were collected and studies were made of the contents and functioning of the Mokkan, taking into consideration where the samples were unearthed.
Wooden tablets as described in old documents respresented passes for checking stations, documents in demand of food, and reports on all-night duty. Wooden tablets also recorded receipt and disbursement of articles at government offices, receipt and dispatch of documents, ratings of court officials’ work, distribution of official work, lists of those attending official functions, etc.
Wooden tablets helped in the management of a nation based on law and ordinances, with their durability, convenience in carrying and small size fully utilized. Such use of wooden tablets was seen in China even after the diffusion of paper and is believed to have been introduced into Japan.
Although it is not clear how late wooden tablets were used in Japan, there is evidence that they were still used at the end of the 12th Century.
Study of Nara Imperial Palace's Dairi, Chugu and Saigu
By ABE, Gihei
According to historical documents of the Nara Period, Nara Imperial Palace comprised a Dairi (Imperial Domicile) as the Imperial Residence as well as the site of ceremonies and two palaces called Chugu and Saigu, each being a group of buildings.
This paper will first review the history of studies since the Edo Period of the location of these palaces. Then an outline will be given on the scale and the dates of construction of these structures based on our excavation work in places long believed to be the sites of these palaces. The sites are called by our institute Areas A to LI. We have studied where these palaces were located by making comparative studies of the ruins of structures and descriptions of the palaces in historical documents.
Heretofore, our institute had considered that the first Dairi and Chodoin (Halls of State) were built in the center of Nara Imperial Palace and transferred eastward later, and we provisionally called them 1st and 2nd Dairi.
As a result of the above-mentioned studies, however, the following facts have become known.
First the second Dairi was built on the occasion of Emperor Shomu’s ascension to the throne, and was called Dairi or Saigu during the Nara Period. Also, the first Dairi matched the Chugu of two Empresses, Genmei and Gensho, and the Chuguin of Emperor Junnin. Such differences in the names of imperial court structures are believed to be concerned with queens and empresses.
Material for Historical Research:
“Chugero Kendan no Hikitsuke,” a Historical Document Kept at the Yakushiji Temple (Records of criminal trials by middle-rank and lower-ranking Buddhist priests)
By TANAKA, Minoru
“Chugero Kendan no Hikitsuke” is a record of police and criminal trials handled by middle-rank and lower-ranking priests at the Yakushiji Temple from 1526 to 1606.
It consisted of trial records concerning crimes committed in the compound of the temple and its adjacent territory. Among the punishments mentioned were beheading, deportation and burning of a house. It contains examples of the criminal code and criminal procedure code based on the Temple Law and constitutes an important document in the study of legislation in the Middle Ages.
昭和四十九年三月三十日 発行
研究論集 Ⅱ
奈良国立文化財研究所学報（第二十二冊）
