Ministry of the Treasury

The Ministry of the Treasury 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.

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

History

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

Hierarchy

The court included a ministry dealing with military affairs.
Amongst the significant daijō-kan officials serving in this ministry structure were:

Chief administrator of the ministry of the treasury. This official supervises the receipt of tributes from the provinces and imposes tribute on others.
Chief administrator of the ministry of the treasury
First assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury
Second assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury, two positions
Alternate assistant to the chief of the ministry of the treasury, two positions
Collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers
Assistant collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers
Alternate assistant collector of taxation from manufacturers and dyers