{"product_id":"edo-period-court-rank-government-offices-reference-chart-woodblock-print-circa-1760-23-x-32-cm-framed","title":"Edo Period Court Rank \u0026 Government Offices Reference Chart Woodblock Print  Circa 1760 (23 x 32 cm Framed)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"109\" data-end=\"360\"\u003eVery good condition overall. There are no tears and only minimal staining. The ink remains dark and unfaded, while the lines are sharp and clearly impressed. The print is presented in a 23 x 32 cm frame for preservation and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"362\" data-end=\"618\"\u003eThis highly detailed Edo-period woodblock print was produced as an educational reference guide explaining the complex court ranking system, government offices, and ceremonial regulations that formed the foundation of Japan's classical Ritsuryō bureaucracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"940\"\u003eDesigned for literate commoners, merchants, scholars, and lower-ranking samurai, the chart provided a practical guide to understanding aristocratic titles, official appointments, court etiquette, and the administrative structure frequently encountered in historical texts, government documents, and classical literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"942\" data-end=\"1517\"\u003eThe lower section is organized as a structured reference table listing ranks and offices within the imperial government. Included are positions such as provincial governors (\u003cem data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1133\"\u003eShokoku no Kami\u003c\/em\u003e), imperial chamberlains (\u003cem data-start=\"1159\" data-end=\"1165\"\u003eJijū\u003c\/em\u003e), senior ministers (\u003cem data-start=\"1186\" data-end=\"1194\"\u003eDaijin\u003c\/em\u003e), military commanders (\u003cem data-start=\"1218\" data-end=\"1226\"\u003eShōgun\u003c\/em\u003e), and specialized departments responsible for palace maintenance, food preparation, and the management of imperial horses. The chart also outlines the hierarchy of court ranks, from Fifth Rank through the prestigious Senior First Rank, the highest honor within the traditional court system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1519\" data-end=\"1822\"\u003eThe upper section contains explanatory text discussing ceremonial protocol, seasonal clothing regulations, Buddhist clerical hierarchy, and other aspects of courtly conduct. These notes helped readers understand not only official titles but also the social customs and expectations associated with them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1824\" data-end=\"2217\"\u003eParticularly noteworthy is the print's combination of formal Classical Chinese (\u003cem data-start=\"1904\" data-end=\"1912\"\u003eKanbun\u003c\/em\u003e) with Japanese explanatory text and phonetic reading aids (\u003cem data-start=\"1972\" data-end=\"1982\"\u003efurigana\u003c\/em\u003e), making complicated administrative terminology accessible to a broader audience. This reflects the growing demand for educational materials during the late Edo period, when literacy rates in Japan were among the highest in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2219\" data-end=\"2447\"\u003eThe work also provides a fascinating glimpse into how ordinary people learned about government, social rank, and court culture before the modernization reforms of the Meiji era fundamentally transformed Japan's political system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2449\" data-end=\"2648\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eA rare and historically informative example of Edo-period educational printing, suitable for collectors of Japanese history, government documents, woodblock prints, and scholarly reference materials.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Echoes of Edo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48337150050563,"sku":null,"price":4000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5965\/1587\/files\/IMG_5105.jpg?v=1780639400","url":"https:\/\/echoesofedo.com\/products\/edo-period-court-rank-government-offices-reference-chart-woodblock-print-circa-1760-23-x-32-cm-framed","provider":"Echoes of Edo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}