奉行(ぶぎょう)

ぶぎょう
noun
magistrate, commissioner
writtenoccupation
1. magistrate, commissioner, governor
A government official in charge of a particular area of administration during the feudal era, especially the Edo period. Various types of bugyō oversaw towns, finances, temples, and other domains.
町(まち)奉行(ぶぎょう)が裁(さば)きを行(おこな)った。
The town magistrate passed judgment.
勘定(かんじょう)奉行(ぶぎょう)は幕府(ばくふ)の財政(ざいせい)を管理(かんり)した。
The finance magistrate managed the shogunate's finances.
江戸(えど)時代(じだい)の奉行(ぶぎょう)は行政(ぎょうせい)と司法(しほう)の両方(りょうほう)の権限(けんげん)を持(も)っていた。
Edo-period magistrates held both administrative and judicial authority.

Usage

A historical term from the feudal era, especially the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1868). The 奉行(ぶぎょう) system was the backbone of Edo-period administration.

The most well-known types include:

  • 町(まち)奉行(ぶぎょう): town magistrate (oversaw urban administration and justice)
  • 勘定(かんじょう)奉行(ぶぎょう): finance magistrate
  • 寺社(じしゃ)奉行(ぶぎょう): temples and shrines magistrate
  • 遠国(おんごく)奉行(ぶぎょう): magistrate of distant provinces

The famous TV series 遠山(とおやま)の金(きん)さん features a 町(まち)奉行(ぶぎょう).

Common collocations

  • 町(まち)奉行(ぶぎょう): town magistrate
  • 勘定(かんじょう)奉行(ぶぎょう): finance magistrate
  • 奉行所(ぶぎょうしょ): magistrate's office
general
Added 2026.2.22 14:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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