[Article] Women in Ancient Political Space

In this paper, I focus on the decision and execution of national will and the participation of women in the ancient political space. I would like to point out women participation in the process of forming national will, by research the ceremonies in court of the monarch held to form national will. Researcher has already pointed out that women attended the Imperial Ceremonies in the 8th century. It stems from the idea that both men and women should contribute the kingship. The ruler thought attendance at ceremonies was also he and her obligation to the state. In 760, monarch Koken held an appointment ceremony to inform leading senior officials of the idea of putting Fujiwara no Nakamaro at the top of the administration, and female officials also attended the ceremony. Female officials also attended the ceremony because it was incorporated into the process of thoroughly pursuing the will of the monarch and forming the national will. In the past, researchers have emphasized Naishi-shi. But the kingship also required the cooperation of female officials of Twelve offices to achieve the purpose of the nation. It became clear from the record of “Shoku Nihongi” on July 15, 708. It should not be overlooked that the higher rank of fifth was important in participating in the 8th century Imperial Council. When women were promoted fifth rank, researchers have considered a special benefit for being a woman. However, the existence of a fifth-ranked female official should be considered as a motive of the kingship giving qualify them for attending the Imperial Council. Going back in time, the ancestral folklore of those who served the kingship in professional positions from the 7th to the 8th centuries includes those reminiscent of the woman who leads the department. For example, Kagami-tsukuri's ancestor Ishikoritome, who appears in “Nihon Shoki” and “Kojiki,” is a female leader who leads a professional group. E-hime, a powerful tribe in the Kibi region during the time of Ōjin, was a woman who ruled Oribe and served the monarch, and she should be called the official who managed the ancient professional group. “Nihon Shoki” and “Kojiki” describe women of the local tribes who belonged to the kingship and were appointed as the local chieftain. Usatsuhime is described as the ancestor of Usa no Kuni-no-Miyatsuko (Kokuzō) in “Nihon Shoki”, and Arakawatobe was called “Ki-no-Kuni-no-Miyatsuko” in “Kojiki”. The monarch of the 8th century appointed six women to be Kokuzō. Behind this may have been the existence and memory of women's Kokuzō before ritsuryō polity. In the 8th century, women attended at the ceremonies in court of the monarch. That was not first created by the Ritsuryō system but had executed before Ritsuryō system.