Hon'i
Hon'i ( Japanese 品位 ) was a ranking system for imperial princes ( shinnō ) in Japan .
The system was introduced in 701 at the same time as a ranking system for civil servants through the Taihō Code . There were four prince ranks , named ippon ( 一 品 , "1st rank"), nihon ( 二 品 , "2nd rank"), sambon ( 三品 , "3rd rank") and shihon ( 四 品 , "4th rank “) Were designated. Not every prince received a rank and those without were referred to as muhon shinnō ( 無 品 親王 , "rankless prince"). The prince ranks were roughly equivalent to their respective official rank in the sense that certain posts in the government could only be reached with a corresponding rank. The post of Daijō Daijin (Grand Chancellor) required 1st rank, that of Sadaijin / Udaijin (Chancellor to the left / right) required 2nd rank and that of Dainagon or a ministerial post 3rd or 4th rank.
Individual evidence
- ^ GB Sansom : Early Japanese Law and Administration . In: The Transactions of The Asiatic Society of Japan. Second series . Vol. IX, 1932, pp. 103 ( limited preview in Google Book search).