Ministry of the Treasury

The was a division of the eighth-century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.

Overview

The nature of the ministry was modified in response to changing times. The ambit of the Ministry's activities encompasses, for example:

• administration of public accounts
• oversight of tax collections and of offerings to the Emperor
• regulation of weights and measures
• control of the functuations in prices of commodities
• regulation and oversight of the coinage of gold, silver, copper, and iron money
• maintenance of the lists of artisans engaged in coinage-related activities
• regulation of activities in the manufacture of lacquer ware, weaving, and other kinds of industries

History

The duties, responsibilities and focus of the ministry evolved over time. It was established as part of the Taika Reforms and Ritsuryō laws. Since 1885, Ōkura-shō has been construed in reference to the Ministry of Finance, also called the Ōkura no Tsukasa.

Hierarchy

The court included a ministry dealing with military affairs.

Amongst the significant daijō-kan officials serving in this ministry structure were:

• . This official supervises the receipt of tributes from the provinces and imposes tribute on others.
• , two positions
• , two positions

See also

• Daijō-kan
• Ministry of Finance (Japan)

Notes

References

• Kawakami, Karl Kiyoshi. (1903). The Political Ideas of the Modern Japan. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press. OCLC 466275784. Internet Archive, full text
• Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 48943301
• 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