| 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 |
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TheDaijō-daijin orDajō-daijin[1] (太政大臣, "Chancellor of the Realm") was the head of theDaijō-kan (太政官, Council of State) during and after theNara period and briefly under theMeiji Constitution. It was equivalent to the Chinese Tàishī (太師), orGrand Preceptor.
Emperor Tenji's favorite son,Prince Ōtomo, was the first to have been accorded the title ofDaijō-daijin during the reign of his father.[2] TheAsuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of theDaijō-Daijin in the context of a central administrative body composed of the three ministers: theDaijō-daijin (Chancellor), theMinister of the Left (左大臣,Sadaijin), and theUdaijin (右大臣,Minister of the Right). These positions were consolidated under theCode of Taihō in 702.[3]
At a time when the Emperor and the nobility held real power, theDaijō-daijin was the highest position in theDaijō-kan, the central organ of the state. However, it was stipulated by law that no one could be appointed to this position if there was no suitable candidate, and the highest permanent position in theDaijō-kan was that ofSadaijin.[4]
In the Nara period (710–794), the title ofDaijō-daijin was basically aposthumous promotion. After the appointment ofFujiwara Yoshifusa in 857 of theHeian period (794–1185), it became an almost permanent position, although not legally permanent, and many members of theFujiwara clan were appointed to the position.[4] As the Fujiwara clan—which dominated theSesshō (摂政, Imperial Regent for Minor Emperors) andKampaku (関白, Imperial Regent fo Adult Emperors)—gained influence, the official government offices diminished in power. By the 10th century,Daijō-daijin had no power to speak of unless they were simultaneouslySesshō andKampaku, or otherwise supported by the Fujiwara. Although the position continued in name until 1885, by the beginning of the 12th century, the office was essentially powerless, and was often vacant for lengthy periods.[5]
By the 10th century, the position ofDaijō-daijin had become an honorary position with no real authority, but it continued to be held by members of the high aristocratic class.
In 1167,Taira no Kiyomori established the first de factosamurai government and becameDaijō-daijin. He was the first person to becomeDaijō-daijin despite being born into the warrior class.[6][7] During theKamakura period (1185-1333), high-ranking positions at theDaijō-kan, such asSadaijin, andUdaijin, also became honorary titles bestowed by the emperor on members of the warrior class.[8] At the time ofOda Nobunaga's appointment asUdaijin during theAzuchi-Momoyama period, the only members of the warrior class who had previously been appointed to imperial court posts higher thanUdaijin were Taira no Kiyomori andAshikaga Yoshimitsu asDaijō-daijin andAshikaga Yoshinori andAshikaga Yoshimasa asSadaijin.[9] Nobunaga was posthumously promoted toDaijō-daijin in 1582.[10] Subsequently,Toyotomi Hideyoshi andTokugawa Ieyasu were appointedDaijō-daijin.[11][12]
This prominent office was briefly resurrected under theMeiji Constitution with the appointment ofSanjō Sanetomi in 1871, before being abolished completely in 1885 in favor of the newly created office ofPrime Minister.
The Chancellor presided over the Great Council of State, and controlled the officers of the state, in particular theSadaijin andUdaijin, as well as four great councillors and three minor councillors. The ministers in turn controlled other elements of the government.