This episode we are talking about the new innovations the court implemented this reign. Mainly about the court rank system and the new constitution.

Twelve Level Cap Rank System

The kan’i-junikai (冠位十二階) is the term used for the rank system developed in this period. It resembles systems in Baekje, Goguryeo, and in various other states. It applied specifically to those individuals connected with the court.

In this early system, it was not necessarily a numerical system. That is to say, later court ranks would literally be “Rank 1” to “Rank 9”, often with various other divisions in each rank.

The ranks are as follows:

1. Daitoku (大徳) - Greater Virtue

2. Shōtoku (小徳) - Lesser Virtue

3. Dainin (大仁) - Greater Humanity

4. Shōnin (小仁) - Lesser Humanity

5. Dairai (大礼) - Greater Propriety

6. Shōrai (小礼) - Lesser Propriety

7. Daishin (大信) - Greater Faith

8. Shōnin (小信) - Lesser Faith

9. Daigi (大義) - Greater Justice

10. Shōgi (小義) - Lesser Justice

11. Daichi (大智) - Greater Wisdom

12. Shōchi (小智) - Lesser Wisdom

Each rank was indicated by a particular cap—the Sui history says “it was made of brocade and colored silk and decorated with gold and silver inlaid flowers.” (Tsunoda 1951). Each cap was a particular color to indicate the rank, but the specific color isn’t mentioned. There are several theories as to what specific colors they used, but nothing definitive that has been set down. Our founder, Tony Bryant, used one theory for our suggested chart, but even that is just supposition.

Seventeen Article Constitution

The Seventeen Article Constitution is said to be the first written legal code of Japan. We go over it in the podcast, but here’s a summary:

1. Harmony is to be valued

2. Reverence the Three Treasures

3. Obey the sovereign’s commands

4. Ministers should act with decorum

5. Ministers should deal impartially with suits submitted to them

6. Chastise what is evil and encourage that which is good

7. Let everyone have their own charge, and let not the spheres of duty be confused

8. Let the ministers and functionaries arrive early and retire late

9. Good faith is the foundation of right

10. Let us cease from wrath, and refrain from angry looks

11. Keep track of merit or demerit and reward or punish appropriately

12. Don’t let the local lords levy taxes – that is for the central government alone

13. Everyone employed in an official office should attend diligently to their functions

14. Be not envious

15. The path of the minister is to turn away from that which is private and focus on the publ ic

16. Only conscript people into forced labor at the right times

17. Discuss weighty matters with a group, don’t make big decisions just by one person

For a full look at each article, a copy of the Aston translation can be found here: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Seventeen-article_constitution

You can also search the online copy of the Nihon Shoki at the Japanese Historical Text Initiative, which includes search features and the original text.

References

• Lurie, D. B. (2011). Realms of Literacy: Early Japan and the History of Writing. Harvard University Asia Center. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1x07wq2

• Como, Michael (2008). Shōtoku: Ethnicity, Ritual, and Violence in the Japanese Buddhist Tradition, ISBN 978-0-19-518861-5

• Bentley, John. (2006). The Authenticity of Sendai Kuji Hongi: a New Examination of Texts, with a Translation and Commentary. ISBN-90-04-152253.

• Kawagoe, Aileen (2009). “Caps and court rank: the Kan’i junikai system”. Heritage of Japan. Retrieved 10/1/2023.

• Aston, W. G. (1972). Nihongi, chronicles of Japan from the earliest times to A.D. 697. London: Allen & Unwin. ISBN0-80480984-4