User:Immanuelle/Yin-Yang Bureau

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This is a draft being worked on by Immanuelle. It may be too complex at the moment but she wants to get it ready to be an article someday. Others are free to edit it
This page was last edited by Immanuelle (talk | contribs) 6 days ago.

Yin-Yang Bureau [ja; en:draft] was a bureau of the Ministry of the Center under the ritsuryō system in ancient Japan. Onmyōji (Japanese: 陰陽師, literally: yin-and-yang master) was one of the official positions belonging to it. They were assigned as a technical officer in charge of divination and geomorphology based on the theory of the yin-and-yang five phases. In the middle ages and early modern period, the term was used to refer to those who performed prayers and divination in the private sector, and some of them were regarded as a kind of clergy.

Sometimes the performance of the rain ritual by Esoteric Buddhists (shōugyōhō) would be followed in succession by the Five Dragons Ritual from the Yin-Yang Bureau [ja]Template:Sfnb Onmyōji (Japanese: 陰陽師, literally: yin-and-yang master) was one of the official positions belonging to the Bureau of Onmyō

Overview[change | change source]

The Bureau of Onmyo- ryo (also called the Bureau of Onmyo) was one of the institutions belonging to the Ministry of Central Affairs [ja] under the Japanese Ritsuryo system [ja] . A department in charge of compiling [ja] fortune-telling, astronomy, time, and calendars. Also known as "Ura no Tsukasa."

overview[change | change source]

A four-rank government system [ja] was established, with senior officials including the Head of Onmyō (Onmyō-no-kami), various Hakase [ja] and Onmyōji (technical officials) who performed sorcery based on Onmyōdō [ja], and other general affairs positions. Abe no Seimei [ja], a famous onmyoji (exorcist), did not rise to the position of onmyō-no-kami (head of the onmyōji), but his second son, Yoshimasa [ja], did.

The doctorates include the Doctor of Onmyō [ja], who trains onmyoji (onmyoji), the Doctor of Astrology [ja], who teaches and practices astrology based on astronomical observations, the Doctor of Calendar [ja], who teaches the compilation and creation of calendars, and the Doctor of Water Clock [ja] who manages the Water Clock and tells the time. Students and graduates [ja] study under the three Doctors of Yin-Yang, Astronomy, and Calendar. The Senmyo calendar was used for 823 years, from February 3, 862 (January 1, 4th year of the Jogan era ) to February 3, 1685 (December 30, 1st year of the Jokyo era).

It was established by Emperor Tenmu in the Asuka period (late 7th century), and was abolished the following year in 1869 ( Meiji 2) when the then head of Onmyo, Tsuchimikado Haruo [ja], passed away [en; ja] . In addition, from 758 to 759, the office was called " Taishi-kyoku" (Taishi Bureau ) due to Fujiwara no Nakamaro [ja] 's abolition of his official title (it was restored after Nakamaro's downfall).

It is believed that the model for the Japanese Onmyoryo was the Taishikyoku, which was in charge of astronomy, calendars, and water clocks in the Tang Dynasty. However, there was no equivalent institution in Japan to the Taibokusho, which was in charge of divination in the Tang Dynasty ^[1], but this was included in the responsibilities of the Onmyoryo, and moreover, more emphasis was placed on this role (officials with Onmyodo-related backgrounds were given relatively higher official ranks) ^[2] .

Staff[change | change source]

Table of official ranks of the Bureau of Onmyo
Junior Fifth Rank	Up
Junior Fifth Rank	under	Head
Senior Sixth Rank	Up
Senior Sixth Rank	under
Junior Sixth Rank	Up	Assistant/Gonsuke
Junior Sixth Rank	under
Seventh rank	Up
Seventh rank	under	Doctor Yin-Yang </br> Astronomy Doctor
Junior Seventh Rank	Up	Yun (Big Yun, Small Yun) </br> Onmyoji </br> Dr. Calendar
Junior Seventh Rank	under	Doctor Water
Shohachi	Up
Shohachi	under
Junior Eighth Rank	Up
Junior Eighth Rank	under	Large genus
First rank	Up	Minor
First rank	under

Onmyo no Kami (陰陽頭): As the chief, oversees the Onmyoryo, supervising astronomy, calendrical science, meteorology, and atmospheric phenomena. Records and secretly seals any anomalies without leaking them to the outside (Astronomical Confidential Report), presents the new year's calendar prepared by the Calendar Hakase by November 1st each year (Imperial Calendar Report), and regularly submits results of divinations and geomancy. Quota of one person, with an official rank equivalent to Junior Fifth Rank Lower.

Onmyo no Suke (陰陽助): Deputy to the Onmyo no Kami, performing assistant duties. Initially one person, but later a provisional official position was also established. Equivalent to Junior Sixth Rank Upper.

Onmyo no Jo (陰陽允): A judge (third rank official) who supervises the bureau internally and manages general administrative documents. Initially one person, later increased to two, Daijo (大允) and Shojo (少允). Equivalent to Senior Seventh Rank Upper.

Onmyo no Taizoku (陰陽大属)・Onmyo no Sho-zoku (同少属): Chief clerks (fourth rank officials). The Taizoku handles recording tasks such as documentation and recitation, while the Sho-zoku assists in these recording duties. Each position has a quota of one. Taizoku is equivalent to Junior Eighth Rank Lower, Sho-zoku to Daijo Rank Upper.

Onmyoji (陰陽師): Specialists in divination (determining auspicious and inauspicious outcomes) and geomancy (observing directions). Quota of six people, equivalent to Senior Seventh Rank Upper.

Onmyo Hakase (陰陽博士): Principal officer of Onmyodo. Instructs trainees called Onmyo-sei (陰陽生). Quota of one person. Equivalent to Junior Seventh Rank Lower. Set at a high rank similar to Astronomical Hakase.

Astronomical Hakase (天文博士): Principal officer of astronomy. "Observes celestial phenomena and seals any anomalies to prevent them from leaking outside," also instructs trainees called Tenmon-sei (天文生). Quota of one person, equivalent to Junior Seventh Rank Lower. The official rank is higher than other Hakase because astronomy was considered the most challenging among all Onmyo disciplines.

Calendar Hakase (暦博士): Principal officer of calendrical studies. Responsible for creating, compiling, and managing calendars, instructing trainees called Reki-sei (暦生). Quota of one person. Equivalent to Senior Seventh Rank Upper.

Rokoku Hakase (漏刻博士): Principal officer in charge of time management. Oversees the design and management of water clocks, leads the Shushincho (守辰丁) in operating the water clocks, and manages the reading of their scales and timekeeping. Operates on a two-shift system, with a quota of 2 people. Equivalent to Junior Seventh Rank Lower.

Student・Tokugyo-sei (学生・得業生): Students (trainees) under the Hakase mastering the various paths of astronomy, Onmyodo, and calendrical studies, with 10 students assigned to each of the three paths; additionally, 2 to 3 Tokugyo-sei (得業生) aiming to become Hakase are also appointed.

Shushincho (守辰丁): Operational officers under the supervision of Rokoku Hakase who measure the water clocks and, at each hourly interval, strike instruments (Drum (太鼓), Bell (鐘鼓)) to announce the time. Quota of 20 people.

Shibu (使部)・Jikicho (直丁): Administrative positions commonly placed in each ministry and bureau outside the Onmyoryo, with a quota of 20 for Shibu and 2 for Jikicho.

As the number of government officials grew, it became common to have gonkan (a method of operation not originally stipulated in the Ritsuryo Code, and originally it was a provisional honorary position in which the official was given the same treatment as the official despite not performing the relevant duties, and was not a regular appointment, but was given the word "gon" meaning "provisional"; however, when it was later made permanent it came to have the same or similar authority as a regular official). Gonnosuke, a provisional official with the rank of "assistant," was given the rank of Junior Sixth Rank [ja], just like the regular official Onmyosuke, and began assisting the Onmyo head. One Onmyo Daiyu and one Shoyu were also appointed to the rank of Yu, and although the Shoyu was in a position to assist the Daiyu, both were given the same official rank of Junior Seventh Rank Upper [ja] .

In the field of Houjutsu as well, permanent quoral hakase (Gon no Hakuji) were appointed to assist each hakase ( Tenmon quoral hakase, Yin Yang quoral hakase, Calendar quoral hakase, and Water Clock quoral hakase ), but their official ranks were all set one rank lower than each regular hakase, and students were also set up following the example of the trainees at Daigakuryo, with Tenmon toku gosho (maximum of 2 students), Onyo toku gosho (maximum of 3 students), and Rekitoku gosho (maximum of 2 students) being appointed as candidates to succeed each doctorate and onmyoji position.

As for the Water Clock department, the Water Clock Doctor was established just like in the Tang Dynasty, but the Water Clock Scholar and Water Clock Master were not established. Originally, under the Tang system, the positions of Ankosho, Shichin, and Rokokudenji were separate to carry out the practical work of Rokoku, and the Rokoku Hakase specialized in educating the Rokoku students. However, under the Japanese system, there were no Ankosho, Shichin, or Rokokudenji, and instead the Rokoku Hakase took on these roles. In addition, there were no Rokoku students, who were the original subjects of the Rokoku Hakase's duties. There were therefore significant differences between the Japanese and Tang systems, but the circumstances behind this are unclear. ^[3]

In addition, the new general affairs positions of history officer and dormitory manager were created. Onyo no Shisho (number of positions unknown) were apparently used as messengers who copied documents and delivered approval documents [ja] within the dormitory, but existing records are insufficient to clarify the actual status of the Shisho position, and there are two theories: one is that it was a part of the Jibu (message) [ja] originally established in the Ritsuryo Code, and the other is that it was a newly established position.