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Ministry of Justice (pre-modern)

Pre-modern Japan
Imperial seal of Japan
Part of a series on the politics and
government of Japan during the
Nara and Heian periods

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
Military Hyōbu-shō
Justice Gyōbu-shō
Treasury Ōkura-shō
Imperial Household Kunai-shō


The Ministry of Justice (刑部省 Gyōbu-shō?) (lit. the department of penal affairs) was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.

The nature of the ministry was modified in response to changing times. The ambit of the Gyōbu-shō activities encompassed, for example:

The duties, responsibilities and focus of the ministry evolved over time. The ritsuryō system of laws were interpreted and applied by bureaucracies which distinguished punishment (gyōbushō) and censorship (danjodai). These were merged in 1871 when the Ministry of Justice (司法省 shihōshō?) was established under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan.

The Ministry of Justice brought together a judiciary and penal system management.

The top ritsuryō officials within this ministry structure were:



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Wikipedia

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