Sōshaban
Encyclopedia
were officials of the Tokugawa shogunate
in Edo period
Japan. Conventional interpretations have construed this Japanese title as "master of ceremonies."
Created in 1632, this bakufu title identified an official selected from the ranks of the daimyō whose responsibility was to formally introduce hatamoto
and other daimyō to the Shogun
during audiences, to read aloud the list of presents received by the Shogun from the various domains during New Years and other ceremonial occasions, and in general to regulate the details of these ceremonies. The title was initially assigned to two daimyō, but was subsequently increased to up to twenty-four, who performed their duties in rotation. The Sōshaban were also responsible for managing the guard of Edo Castle
at night. After 1658, the four Jisha-bugyō
came to be selected from the ranks of the Sōshaban, who continued to hold their original title concurrently; the title was also restricted to the ranks of the fudai daimyō
. The title was suppressed in 1862.
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
in Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
Japan. Conventional interpretations have construed this Japanese title as "master of ceremonies."
Created in 1632, this bakufu title identified an official selected from the ranks of the daimyō whose responsibility was to formally introduce hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
and other daimyō to the Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
during audiences, to read aloud the list of presents received by the Shogun from the various domains during New Years and other ceremonial occasions, and in general to regulate the details of these ceremonies. The title was initially assigned to two daimyō, but was subsequently increased to up to twenty-four, who performed their duties in rotation. The Sōshaban were also responsible for managing the guard of Edo Castle
Edo Castle
, also known as , is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. It is located in Chiyoda in Tokyo, then known as Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate here. It was the residence of the shogun and location of the shogunate, and also...
at night. After 1658, the four Jisha-bugyō
Jisha-bugyo
was a "commissioner" or an "overseer" of the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo period Japan. Appointments to this prominent office were always fudai daimyō, the lowest-ranking of the shogunate offices to be so restricted...
came to be selected from the ranks of the Sōshaban, who continued to hold their original title concurrently; the title was also restricted to the ranks of the fudai daimyō
Fudai
was a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
. The title was suppressed in 1862.