Org chart contains incidental spoilers, so click at your own risk.

This is a not very sparkly organizational chart I made, based off of this chart.
The Saiunkoku government structure is based off of the structure of the government during the Tang and Song dynasties, vaguely. This structure was known as the “three bureaus and six departments.” The author added one more, the Sendoushou (Bureau of the Cave of the Immortals?). In terms of who outranks whom, Yuushun (actually, on the chart he’s listed as the chief of the executive branch, for lack of a better word, and is also at the same time Prime Minister. But to make things less confusing, I just listed him as Prime Minister.) Ou Ki is sort of in charge of the branch that deliberates the new laws (or something. I tried to research these things, and I became even more confused). Riou is in charge of astrology, and planning the king’s marriage, as well as approving who gets to be king or not. Probably Yuushun outranks the heads of the other bureaus.
As for the Censorate, I’m not sure who Kouki directly reports to. (Also, Mei Sai is another Censor, but since he’s such a random character, I didn’t put him on the chart. ) Same with the archives.
The Six Departments are executive departments (carrying out the laws, etc). I don’t think Minister Rou’s name is ever completely given. No clue who runs Keibu either.
As for the Plume Forest Army, you could say their role is the Guards. They basically are there to defend the emperor. I have no idea where the regular army is.
tags>>saiunkoku
10 Responses for "Saiunkoku Bureaucracy"
Yay, chart! Looks great.
I knew there was a reason I couldn’t keep the San Shi apart. XD; Those are some extremely similar names. If Shou Taishi sort of hangs around to advise the emperor on court matters, and Sou Taifu kind of hangs around to advise on military matters, what was Sa Taiho’s expertise?
Seiran is in the Right army, right?
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worldserpent@livejournal reply on October 21st, 2007 11:50 am:
They’re titles, so it’s no wonder they’re similar.
I really am not sure. Actually Taifu is IIRC not a military position. If I understand wikipedia correctly, there are supposed to be three more elders who are from the military side.
Yes, IIRC. He’s not mentioned in the chart though… I don’t think his rank is explicitly ever mentioned. Right now he’s like the special officer assigned to guard the prime minister.
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful information! Makes more sense now.
Just curious, is this the chart from the “future” (not currently going on) of Saiunkoku? I mean seeing Shuurei’s name listed there with Kouki makes me wonder. Also, isn’t Anju one of the top people? I don’t see his name there. Hmmm. Interesting how Shuurei ends up (?) working with Tantan and Seiga, though. ^^;
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worldserpent@livejournal reply on October 21st, 2007 2:21 pm:
? What do you mean? Currently Shuurei does work under Kouki, from volume 11. I did say that this chart is spoilers up till the current volume. XD The anime is currently at the beginning of volume 10.
His name is right next to Ou Ki’s.
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Pandalin reply on October 22nd, 2007 1:25 am:
*facepalm* That’s what I get for looking at the chart @ 3:30am. XD So sorry… and thanks for setting me straight. ~_~ Eh-heh… *runs away embarrassed*
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Hi Charrmian,
Can I ask you isn’t the Saiunkoku Monogatari suppose to be based on 12 light novels and 2 side story as per Wikipedia written by Sai Yukino and then the one you are blogging now is volume no 12?
Does this means the story is coming to an end?
I watched in Animax and their storyline in the anime is really different. Like Ryuki and Shuurei is really meant for each other in season 1.
In Season 2 as per the video in youtube, the opening scene it looks like Ryuki and Shuurei does not meant to be together although Shuurei dress in royal consort costume. I don’t know what will be the novel ending I can only hope they are together because both of them is the reason why I was hooked on to this show.
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worldserpent@livejournal reply on October 22nd, 2007 3:36 am:
Yes, I just blogged novel #12, but it seems there are still more coming out. The wikipedia entry is correct that there are so far twelve novels and two gaidens. It is unclear how many more there will be. The next gaiden comes out on 11/1.
I don’t really think the anime is that different from the novels. Some things are changed, but the major stuff remains the same.
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Episode 24 is out. Kouki and Anju still unfairly ignored in the OP and ED. *grrr*
Oh well, at least Kouki was deliciously evil this episode. Does he come off as that evil in the novels!?
Preview shows more Kouki goodness in episode 25, whee! *wishes it were next week*
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charmian reply on October 27th, 2007 7:30 pm:
I can kind of understand ignoring Anju, because he doesn’t have that many scenes compared to Kouki, and also, with how they seem to be cutting a lot of the scenes related to the rivalry between the National Exam and Nobility faction, that does really does make the purpose of his character unclear…
Heh, hard to say, depends what you consider evil. XD
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i’m translating novel 13, and i’m ABSOLUTELY in love with your chart right now!!!!
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