The Board of Ceremonies (??? Shikibu-shoku) is a department of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. The board is the chief administration charged with ceremonial matters.
Video Board of Ceremonies
History
The history dates back to the Asuka period of the 8th century under the Taih? Code, when the Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs (???, Shikibu-sh?) was formed. This stayed in existence until the reforms of the Meiji era in 1871, when the ministry was replaced with the Board of Ceremonies (??? Shikibu-kyoku), which was soon renamed Bureau of Ceremonies (???, Shikibu-ry?) in 1872. The Ministry of Shinto Affairs was abolished, with the bulk of duties moved to the Ky?bu-sh? (??? "Department (Ministry) of Religion and Education") and the administration of formal ceremonial functions transferred to the Bureau of the Ceremonies. The Bureau of the Ceremonies was initially under the administration of the Great Council of State (??? Daj?-kan), but was transferred to the control of the Imperial Household Ministry in September 1877. The Bureau underwent the current name (??? Shikibu-sh?ku) change in October 1884.
Maps Board of Ceremonies
Organisation
The board is headed by the Grand Master of Ceremonies (Shikibu-kanch? (????)). However, the post has historically gone under the name Shikibu no kami (???).
The Grand Master is assisted by two Vice-Grand Masters of Ceremonies (????, Shikibu fukuch?). One of them has "purview over ceremonial matters" (????, gishiki s?katsu), while the other has "purview over foreign related matters" (????, gaiji s?katsu).
The first Vice-Grand Master has subordinate "officials of ceremonies" (??, shikikan) underneath him, variously charged with ceremonial rites, music, and hunting parties at the duck netting preserves (??, kamoba).
The other Vice-Grand Master is charged foreign matters, i.e., with assisting in coordinating various court functions held for visiting foreign dignitaries. He is also responsible for such activities as the Imperial Family's State visits to foreign countries.
Music Department
It is the board's Music Department (??, gakubu), which performs both gagaku (??), i.e. ancient court music, and Western classical music.
Wild Duck Preserves
The hunting parties at the kamoba preserves invites guests to participate in traditional wild-duck netting, where the wildfowl are tagged. It should be mentioned that the guests invited to the netting are often diplomatic missions and plenipotentiaries from foreign countries, although cabinet members, members of the National Diet, and Supreme Court Justices are extended invitations also.
Grand Masters of Ceremonies
Below is the historic list of the grand masters from 1947~current.
Explanatory notes
Citations
References
- Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
- Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinn? Sh?t?ki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842
External links
- Imperial Household Agency | Board of Ceremonies
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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