Dajō Daijin
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The Dajō daijin (太政大臣?) or Chancellor of the Realm was the head of the Dajō-kan, or Department of State in Heian Japan. The position, along with the rest of the Dajō-kan structure, was created by the Code of Taihō in 702.
The Chancellor presided over the Great Council of State, and controlled the officers of the state, in particular the minister of the left (左大臣, Sadaijin) and minister of the right (右大臣, Udaijin) , as well as four great councillors and three minor councillors. The ministers in turn controlled other elements of the government.
As the Fujiwara clan, which dominated the regency, gained influence, the official government offices diminished in power. By the 10th century, chancellors had no power to speak of unless they were simultaneously regent, or otherwise supported by the Fujiwara. By the beginning of the 12th century, the office was essentially powerless, and was often vacant, as the regents, who sometimes acted as minister of the left or right, held all the administrative power over the government.
The last chancellor was probably Fujiwara no Nobuyori, who was given the position in 1160 by a kidnapped Emperor Nijō, who was forced to make the appointment under duress. Nobuyori was killed soon afterwards, and never had an opportunity to truly wield power.
[edit] Reference
- Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
