The construction of the ritsuryō state promoted under Emperors Tenmu and Jitō reached one stage of completion with the establishment of the Taihō Code in 701. Let us examine the structure and significance of the ritsuryō system.
Basic Knowledge
The Taihō Code was Japan’s first full-scale ritsuryō legal code, compiled in 701 during the reign of Emperor Monmu by Prince刑部 and Fujiwara no Fuhito and others.
・Ritsu: Criminal law (regulations concerning crimes and punishments)
・Ryō: Administrative law (the bureaucratic system, taxation, land制度, and so on)
Through this, Japan became a full-scale centralized state, the ritsuryō state, which had adopted the ritsuryō system of Tang China.
Main structures of the ritsuryō state:
・Two Departments and Eight Ministries: The Jingi-kan (religious rites) and the Daijō-kan (government), with eight ministries under the Daijō-kan
・Local government system: Provinces → districts → villages; provincial governors, district officials, and village heads were appointed
・Household registers and tax registers: Household registers were created every six years, forming the basis of the Handen system
・Handen system: Rice fields were distributed to men and women aged 6 or older
・Sō・Yō・Chō: A unified tax system
・Military service and Sakimori: Adult men were required to perform military service
Sō Pay about 3% of the harvest in rice (local revenue)
Yō Labor service in the capital (10 days) or payment in cloth instead
Chō Local products (silk・hemp・salt・seafood, etc.)
Miscellaneous labor service Local labor service under the orders of provincial governors (up to 60 days per year)
Military service・Sakimori Adult men performed military service; Sakimori guarded Kyushu (3 years)
Kubunden Distributed to people aged 6 or older; 2 tan for men・2/3 of that for women
Taihō Code (701) Compiled by Prince刑部 and Fujiwara no Fuhito
Further Study (Background・Impact)
The construction of the ritsuryō state became full-scale during the reigns of Emperors Tenmu and Jitō. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code (689) formed its basis, and institutional development progressed alongside the construction of Fujiwara-kyō (694). It reached provisional completion with the Taihō Code of 701.
The greatest feature of the ritsuryō system was the principle of public lands and public people. Land and people were considered the property of the emperor, and kubunden was distributed to men and women aged 6 or older (Handen system). Men received 2 tan (about 23 ares), while women received 2/3 of that amount; when the holder died, the land was returned to the state.
The tax system consisted of the three parts sō・yō・chō, in addition to which there were obligations of miscellaneous labor service and military service. In particular, Sakimori was a harsh duty in which farmers from eastern Japan were sent to guard northern Kyushu. “Sakimori songs,” poems expressing farewells to family members, were included in the Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves.
Educational institutions such as the university and provincial schools were established to train capable officials to administer the ritsuryō system. In addition, Wadō Kaichin was minted in 708 and circulated as Japan’s first full-scale currency.
Along with the 710 move of the capital to Heijō-kyō, this ritsuryō system was carried forward into the Nara period. The ideal of the ritsuryō state was modeled on the ritsuryō system of Tang China, but Japanese modifications were added, and it became the foundation of the Japanese state thereafter.
- 701: Taihō Code established (Prince刑部・Fujiwara no Fuhito)
- Ritsu = criminal law, ryō = administrative law (modeled on Tang institutions)
- Two Departments and Eight Ministries: Jingi-kan・Daijō-kan + 8 ministries
- Handen system: Kubunden distributed to people aged 6 or older
- Sō (3% of harvest)・Yō (labor service)・Chō (local products)
- Sakimori = farmers from eastern Japan guarded Kyushu (harsh duty)
- 708: Wadō Kaichin (Japan’s first full-scale currency)
- 710: Capital moved to Heijō-kyō → Nara period began
Points to Note (Easy to Confuse)
① Know the difference between the Taihō Code (701) and the Asuka Kiyomihara Code (689). The Taihō Code included both ritsu and ryō, while the Kiyomihara Code included only ryō. ② Be sure to memorize “sō・yō・chō.” Sō = rice (local), yō = labor service (central), chō = local products. Do not confuse them. ③ The “two departments” of the Two Departments and Eight Ministries were the Jingi-kan and the Daijō-kan. A feature was that the Jingi-kan ranked higher (a remnant of the unity of religious rites and government). ④ Kubunden in the Handen system was 2 tan for men and 2/3 of the men’s amount for women. It was also distributed to slaves. ⑤ The Taihō Code was established during the reign of Emperor Monmu. Fujiwara no Fuhito was the son of Nakatomi no Kamatari. ⑥ “Ritsuryō” is pronounced “ritsuryō,” not “ritsurei.”
Practice
- What was the name of Japan’s first full-scale ritsuryō legal code, established in 701?
- Briefly explain the contents of sō, yō, and chō among the taxes under the ritsuryō system.
- What is the difference between ritsu and ryō?