(ぶぎょう)

ぶぎょう
noun
magistrate, commissioner
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.
(まち)奉行(ぶぎょう)(さば)きを(おこな)った。
The town magistrate passed judgment.
勘定(かんじょう)奉行(ぶぎょう)幕府(ばくふ)財政(ざいせい)管理(かんり)した。
The finance magistrate managed the shogunate's finances.
江戸(えど)時代(じだい)奉行(ぶぎょう)行政(ぎょうせい)司法(しほう)両方(りょうほう)権限(けんげん)()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:

  • (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)(きん)さん features a (まち)奉行(ぶぎょう).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (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