Chūnagon
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Chūnagon (中納言) was a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan.[1] The role dates from the 7th century.
Premodern Japan | |
---|---|
Daijō-daijin | |
Minister of the Left | Sadaijin |
Minister of the Right | Udaijin |
Minister of the Center | Naidaijin |
Major Counselor | Dainagon |
Middle Counselor | Chūnagon |
Minor Counselor | Shōnagon |
Eight Ministries | |
Center | Nakatsukasa-shō |
Ceremonial | Shikibu-shō |
Civil Administration | Jibu-shō |
Popular Affairs | Minbu-shō |
War | Hyōbu-shō |
Justice | Gyōbu-shō |
Treasury | Ōkura-shō |
Imperial Household | Kunai-shō |
The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705. This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century.[2]
This became a Taihō Code office in the early feudal Japanese government or daijō-kan.
In the ranks of the Imperial bureaucracy, the Chūnagon came between the Dainagon (major counselors) and the Shōnagon (minor counselors).[3] Imperial honors included the sometimes creation of a temporary or "acting middle counselor" (権中納言, gon-chūnagon).[4]
The number of Chūnagon has varied, from three in 705 to four in 756. There were eight in 1015; and in later years, there were up to ten Chūnagon at one time.[2]