Heian Period Social Hierarchy (Ritsuryo) - Male Court Rankings
(The chart is easiest to read from left to right.)
During the Heian period, Japanese society was divided into two broad social classes: the lower classes (senmin) and upper classes (ryoumin). Within the senmin class, there are five sub-classes.
The highest of the lower classes, the ryouko, are dedicated servant families to the Imperial family, often as the guards of Imperial tombs. They would be serving individuals with the rank of Emperor, Crown Prince, and Prince. Underneath are the kanko, who were families dedicated to running the public ministries too menial for the ryoumin. Beneath them were the kenin, who were often the servants of high-ranking families beneath the Imperial family, who would be of the First to Ninth Ranks. Under them are the kunuhi, families whose members were hereditary slaves to the Imperial Court or the Public Ministries. Lastly, the shinuhi are families whose members were hereditary slaves to families of the ryoumin classes.
The majority of what is known about the Heian period is known about the ryoumin, or upper, classes. The lowest of the upper classes, the zakko, are miscellaneous houses of nobles or former nobles. The shinabe were the craftsmen and artisans. Koumin were the average free citizens of the realm. Kanjin are the government officials who possess one of the nine Heian court ranks. Lastly, at the top of the pyramid, is the kouzoku, which is the proper name for Emperor and his extended family and concubines.
The chart begins to expand with the kanjin class. Broadly speaking, the majority of these class members can be classified as kuge, or aristocrats. However, they are generally divided into 3 classes of kuge. Kuge who possess court ranks nine (a.k.a. initial rank) to six are called jige, or menial aristocrats. In the eyes of most kuge, the jige aren’t considered actual members of the nobility. The offices to which members of the jige ranks are assigned are largely empty, ceremonial positions with little to no real impact on the happenings within the Imperial Court.
Courtiers holding the fifth and fourth ranks are called tsuki, or lesser aristocrats. Among the kuge, they are considered true nobles, but of houses of lesser importance. These courtiers are known as those with “court access” because they regularly appear at all major court events. Their ranks are also tasked with real jobs that have regular impact within the Imperial Court. The kizoku, or true aristocrats, are the highest ranking nobles under the Imperial family and exclusively possess court ranks from three to one. These ranks populate the highest levels of the government bureaucracy and these families are often minor branch families of the Imperial family line.
Under the Court Ranks & Positions, it details all the positions at court along with the colors that they would have worn on their “ho,” or outer robe, of their “sokutai,” or full court dress ensemble, or of their “ikan,” or informal court dress ensemble. The Japanese name is of each color is in parenthesis.
