Ministry of the Treasury

This article is about the Ministry of the Treasury before 1889. For other uses, see Ministry of Finance (Japan).

The Ministry of the Treasury (大蔵省, Ōkura-shō; lit. 'the department of the great treasury') was a division of the eighth-century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto,^[1] instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.

Premodern Japan
Part of a series on the politics and government of Japan during the Nara and Heian periods
Daijō-kan (Council of State)
Chancellor / Chief Minister	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
v t e

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^[2]
• oversight of tax collections and of offerings to the Emperor^[2]
• regulation of weights and measures^[2]
• control of the functuations in prices of commodities^[2]
• regulation and oversight of the coinage of gold, silver, copper, and iron money^[2]
• maintenance of the lists of artisans engaged in coinage-related activities^[2]
• regulation of activities in the manufacture of lacquer ware, weaving, and other kinds of industries^[2]

History

The duties, responsibilities and focus of the ministry evolved over time. It was established as part of the Taika Reforms and Ritsuryō laws.^[3] Since 1885, Ōkura-shō has been construed in reference to the Ministry of Finance, also called the Ōkura no Tsukasa.^[4]

Hierarchy

The court included a ministry dealing with military affairs.^[3]

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

• Chief administrator of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵卿, Ōkura-kyō). This official supervises the receipt of tributes from the provinces and imposes tribute on others.^[5]
• Chief administrator of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵大輔, Ōkura-taifu)^[5]
• First assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵少輔, Ōkura-shō)^[5]
• Second assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵丞, Ōkura-no-jō), two positions^[5]
• Alternate assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury (大蔵録, Ōkura-no-sakan), two positions^[5]
• Collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers (織部正, Oribe-no-kami)^[5]
• Assistant collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers (織部佑, Oribe-no-jō)^[5]
• Alternate assistant collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers (織部令史, Oribe-no-sakan)^[5]

See also

• Daijō-kan
• Ministry of Finance (Japan)