The Dajō-kan (太政官, Dajō-kan^?) was the Department of State in Heian period Japan. Created by the Code of Taihō in 702, the Dajō-kan was headed by the Great Council of State and the Dajō Daijin (Chancellor of the Realm). It and its subsidiary ministries handled all secular administrative affairs of the country, while the Jingi-kan or Department of Worship, oversaw all matters regarding Shintō ritual, clergy, and shrines. The Heian period (Japanese: 平安時代, Heian-jidai) is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. ... // Births April 20 - Jafar Sadiq, Muslim scholar (d. ... Dajō Daijin or Chancellor of the Realm (太政大臣) was the head of the Dajō-kan, or Department of State in Heian Japan. ... A torii at Itsukushima Shrine Shinto (神道 Shintō) (sometimes called Shintoism) is a native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ...

The Department gradually lost power over the course of the 10th and 11th centuries, as the Fujiwara clan, dominating the post of Imperial regent, began to dominate the Dajō-kan as well. It became increasingly common for the Regent to also hold the post of Chancellor, or Minister of the Right, or even both. By the 12th century, the Council was essentially powerless as a separate entity, though it is not clear when the system was formally dismantled. Fujiwara no Nobuyori was the last Chancellor, though only for a short time, in 1160. The Fujiwara clan (藤原氏 Fujiwara-shi) was a clan of regents who had sort of monopoly to the Sekkan positions, Sesshō and Kampaku. ... In Japan, the Sesshō (摂政) was a title given to a regent who was named to assist an emperor when the emperor was still a child, before the coming of age, or female. ... Fujiwara no Nobuyori (藤原信頼)(d. ... Events Erik den helige is succeeded by Karl Sverkersson. ...

Department Organization & Hierarchy

The Dajō-kan was headed by the Great Council of State which, in turn, was presided over by the Chancellor of the Realm (Dajō Daijin). Below him were the Minister of the Left (Sadaijin) and his deputy, the Minister of the Right (Udaijin), along with four Great Councillors (Dainagon) and three Minor Councillors (Shōnagon).

The Minister of the Left, through the Controller of the Left (Sadaiben), controlled four Ministries:

• The Ministry of the Center (Nakatsukasa) which formed the channel between the Throne and the administration
• The Ministry of Ceremony (Shikibushō)
• The Ministry of Civil Affairs (Jibushō)
• The Ministry of the People's Affairs (Minbushō)

The Minister of the Right, through the Controller of the Right (Udaiben), also controlled four Ministries: The Breast Star of the Order of the Chrysanthemum The Chrysanthemum Throne is the common name given to the Imperial throne of Japan. ...

• The Ministry of Military Affairs (Hyōbushō)
• The Ministry of Justice (Gyōbushō)
• The Ministry of the Treasury (Ōkurashō)
• The Ministry of the Imperial Household (Kunaishō)

The country was divided into provinces called kuni, which were administered by governors (kami) appointed by the Dajō-kan. The provinces were then further divided into districts called gun or kōri, under district governors (gunshi) who were appointed by the local nobility. At the beginning of the eighth century there were 592 districts making up 66 provinces. Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into tens of Kuni (国, Countries). ...

Reference

• Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.