Page:Nihongi by Aston volume 2.djvu/375

368 In this year it was notified to the four provinces of Iga, Ise, Mino, and Wohari, that for the future in years of payment of commuted taxes, forced labour would be remitted, and in years of forced labour, the commuted taxes would be remitted.

The lower district of Katsuraki in Yamato reported that there was a fowl with four legs.

Moreover the district of Higami in the province of Tamba reported that there was a calf with twelve horns.

14th year, Spring, 1st month, 2nd day. The public functionaries paid their respects at Court.

21st day. The styles of official ranks were reformed, and new grades added. There were two grades of Myō-i (bright-rank) and four grades of Jō-i (pure-rank), each grade being distinguished into Dai (great) and Kwō (broad), so as to form twelve grades in all. The above were for persons not below the rank of Princes.

Next there were four grades of Shō-i (true or first rank), four grades of Jiki-i (straight or direct rank), four grades of Gon-i (diligent-rank), four grades of Mu-i (earnest-rank), four grades of Tsui-i (following-rank), and four grades of Shin-i (advancing-rank). Each grade was divided into Dai and Kwō, so that there were in all forty-eight grades. The above were the ranks of high officials.

On this day, His Highness the Imperial Prince Kusakabe was granted the rank of Jō-kwō-ichi (pure-broad-first-rank), the Imperial Prince Ohotsu the rank of Jō-dai-ni (pure-great-second-rank), the Imperial Prince Takechi the rank of Jō-kwō-ni, the Imperial Prince Kahashima and the Imperial Prince Osakabe the rank of Jō-dai-san. The Princes of inferior rank and the high officials received steps in rank varying in each case.

2nd month, 4th day. Degrees of rank were granted to men of Great Thang, of Pèkché, and of Koryö, 147 persons in all.

3rd month, 14th day. Kim Mul-yu was entertained in Tsukushi, and straightway took his departure from there.