Hyōbu-shō

The nihongo|Hyōbu-shō|兵部省| was a division of the Japanese government (Imperial Court in Kyoto), instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period, which addressed matters relating to the supervision of the imperial troops. This part of the bureaucracy has been variously identified as the Ministry of the Military,Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). "Annales des empereurs du japon," p. 431.] and the Ministry of War. [ [http://www.temcauley.staff.shef.ac.uk/warmin.shtml Ministry of War] , Sheffield.]

Ministry activities

The highest ranking official or nihongo|head of the military|兵部卿,|"Hyōbu-kyō" was ordinarily a son or a close relative of the Emperor. This important court officer was responsible for directing all military matters; and after the beginning in the late 12th century, this military man would have been empowered to work with the shogunate on the emperor's behalf. [see above] ]

The Hyōbu-shō had the following responsibilities:
* Maintenance of the rosters of military officers and their examinations, appointments, and rank.
* Dispatch of troops.
* Keeping track of the status of weapons, guards, fortifications, and signal fires.
* Keeping track of the pastures, military horses, and both public and private horses and cattle.
* Postal stations.
* Manufacture of weapons, and maintenance of the lists of those craftsmen connected to their construction.
* Practice in drumming and flute playing.
* Public and private means of water transport.
* The training of hawks and dogs.Kawakami, Karl Kiyoshi. (1903). "The Political Ideas of Modern Japan", p. 37.]

Ministry hierarchy

Ministry history

In the Edo period, titles associated with the "hyōbu-shō", such as "Hyōbu-dayū", became ceremonial titles. [see above] ]

In the Meiji period, the "hyōbu-shō" was reorganized into a modern Ministry of War and Ministry of the Navy. [see above] ]

References

* Kawakami, Karl Kiyoshi. (1903). "The Political Ideas of the Modern Japan". Tokyo: Shokwabo.
* Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652] , "Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon, tr. par M. Isaac Titsingh avec l'aide de plusieurs interprètes attachés au comptoir hollandais de Nangasaki; ouvrage re., complété et cor. sur l'original japonais-chinois, accompagné de notes et précédé d'un Aperçu d'histoire mythologique du Japon, par M. J. Klaproth." Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. [http://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran --Click for digitized, full-text copy of this book (in French)]
* Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). [Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359] , "Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley)." New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4

Further reading

* Friday, Karl F. (1992). "Hired Swords: the Rise of Private Warrior Power in Early Japan". Stanford: Stanford University Press. 10-ISBN 0-804-71978-0; 13-ISBN 978-0-804-71978-0 (cloth) 10-ISBN 0-804-72696-5; 13-ISBN 978-0-804-72696-2 (paper)

ee also

* Daijō-kan