From the late Asuka period to the early Heian period, Japan was a Ritsuryo nation . was.
What is a Ritsuryo nation? [ All people and territories are under the control of the emperor ], Which refers to a political system aimed at centralization centered on the emperor.
Middle and big brothers and princes Yin Wood Snake To destroy Soga no Iruka and Ezo parents and children, and the political reform of 645 Taika Reform It was said that the politics of the decree was started by the Taika Reform, but recently it is said that the centralization gradually progressed after the Taika Reform.
701 In addition, Taiho Ritsuryo , which is also Japan's first Ritsuryo Code. Has been enforced. As a result, the name of the country of Japan was decided, and from Fujiwara-kyo to Heijo-kyo . The city will be moved to and a full-scale Ritsuryo city will be built.
In addition, a family register has been created to help collect taxes under the decree system, and coining , Weights and measures * Was enacted.
* Weights and measures are units of various things.
Kokufu was created in each region while such a decree system was established. It is a city called, but I will explain it later.
The road to the Ritsuryo nation
On the Korean Peninsula, Tang and Silla were connected and destroyed Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668.
Along with this, in Wa no Kuni (Japan), a large army was dispatched in 663 to support the reconstruction of Baekje and fight against Tang and Silla, but they are defeated [ Battle of Baekgang . ].
After that, the Korean Peninsula was established and unified by Silla.
Exiles from Baekje invited them to the north of Dazaifu, and a Korean-style mountain castle was built from Tsushima to Yamato to prepare for an attack from the peninsula.
667 years In 670 , the Emperor Tenji became Emperor Tenji. I created a family register, the Yang Metal Horse. When Emperor Tenji died, over the succession of the next emperor to the throne [ Jinshin War ] Occurred, and Emperor Tenmu, who won the battle, took the throne.
Jinshin War and Taika Reform / Yin Wood Snake Please refer to the details of the change here.
From around this time, instead of the Great King, [ Emperor ] Has come to be used.
675 years In order to strengthen centralization, Emperor Tenmu abandoned the rule of the territory by the influential tribes, established the rank of officials and the promotion system, and created the bureaucracy. In 684, he set the eight-colored surname and organized it into an order of status centered on the emperors of the great tribes.
After that, he started coining coins, compiling rituals and hips, and constructing Fujiwara-kyo. He died in the middle of his career. The Empress of Emperor Tenmu took over as Empress Jito, 689 In, the Asuka Kiyomihara Ordinance was enforced, and the following year, the family register was maintained and efforts were made to grasp the people.
What is the culture after becoming a Ritsuryo nation?
During the Tenbu and Jito Emperor eras of the 7th and early 8th centuries, the culture based on Buddhist culture was strongly influenced by the culture of the early Tang Dynasty, which was passed down from Shilla. Is called.
The rise of Buddhism was a national project, with Emperor Tenmu starting to build Daian-ji Temple and Yakushi-ji Temple. All the local tribes built temples, and the Buddhist boom was unprecedented in Wakoku.
Many of the Buddhist statues have easy-going faces such as the head of Kofukuji Temple, and the mural paintings of Horyuji Kongodo are famous for their paintings. In addition, while the gentry began to learn Chinese culture and write Chinese poetry, the format of Japanese poetry was also arranged at this time.
Kokufu was the center of local administration
The national government is government centered on the government office that governs politics. , Warehouse, Workshop Government city that controls the region was. Since the center of industry at that time was agriculture, the commerce and industry was still small, and it seems that the residential area of the general public was not very large.
In order to spread Buddhism to Kokubunji, " Kokubunji ”“ Provincial Temple ] And Soja, which enshrines various gods, were set up. It is said that Kokufu was often set up along the station road, which was a public road at that time, especially at a fork. In addition, horses are used for communication with the capital, and it seems that there was a station house nearby, which is a stable that prepared horses for traveling officials.
Currently known locations for the location of the national government are Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Fuchu City, Kyoto Prefecture, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture . It is said that it was there. You can see that many of these places are transportation hubs and are still prospering as local cities.
In the area where the national government was located at that time, the place name was " prefecture ". ] Is often attached, and it is located in the western part of Tokyo [ Fuchu ] Is also said to be a remnant of the former Musashi Kokufu.
The structure of the national government office, which is the center of the national government, has a main hall facing south in a rectangular wall, and side halls on the left and right, and it is said that Heijokyo is a model. Some of the facilities are shipyard ships and dyeing and weaving workshops It seems that there was also.
Kokufu is the pinnacle of local administration and is Kokushi . Senior bureaucrats called Was dispatched from the center, and local gentry were working under it. However, in the 9th and 10th centuries, the decree system collapsed, and after that, it was left to the Kokushi, and its power increased.
It is said that this caused confusion in the region and gave birth to the samurai class.
Facilities and work in Kokufu
| Facility name | Role |
|---|---|
| Kokuga | A place for rituals and feasts to confirm the hierarchical relationship of the imperial court, Kokushi, and local lords. From the research, it is said that writing administration was also carried out. |
| Kokushikan | The dormitory of the fourth officer including Mamoru. It was also a place to entertain trade and guests. In the Heian period, it was also used for rituals and office work. |
| Soji | A dormitory for officials who carry out business under the Kokufu. It seems that it was divided into many departments. |
| Kokufu Kitchen | A place to prepare meals for Kokufu officials. |
| Warehouses | Rice etc. are stored in a warehouse in the country called Shosoin. |
| Station house / Kouzu | You can rest and replenish supplies at each of the land and water transportation bases. |
| Kokubunji Temple / Nanji Temple | A national temple set up by Emperor Shomu in each country as part of national protection. |
The work of the national government included tax management, police work, and maintenance of land and water transportation hubs. It seems that many of the bureaucrats dispatched were assigned to work alone, and they also had accommodations and facilities for preparing meals.
People's tax burden
The people in the Ritsuryo nation are managed by the family register and account book, and the Kokubunda is paid in a certain unit and tax is levied. Although it was allowed to buy and sell the house and the land around it, Kuchibunda could not be sold and the dead Kuchibunda was requisitioned every six years. [ Kumada Receiving Method ]
For the people, Zu Yong Diao Tax was levied.
The ancestors pay about 3% of the crops from the harvest, such as Kuchibunda, and the central government pays the silk, cloth, and thread, which are special products of each region. In addition, miscellaneous work was a labor force that carried out public works, etc. at the order of the Kokushi, and was carried out for up to 60 days.
Adult men also had military service and were trained in various corps.