This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Tenchi.
281

orders to the Prince Imperial, his younger brother, announced an augmentation and revision of the caps denoting official rank, and also an increase in the designations of the grades, as well as matters relating to the senior members of families, their vassals and domestic retainers.

There were twenty-six grades of caps, viz.:—

Dai-shiki (greater woven stuff)
Shō-shiki (lesser woven stuffdo.)
Dai-shu (greater embroidery)
Shō-shu (lesser embroiderydo.)
Dai-shi (greater purple)
Shō-shi (lesser purpledo.)
Upper Dai-kin (greater brocade)
Middle Dai-kin (greater brocadedo.)
Lower Dai-kin (greater brocadedo.)
Upper Shō-kin (lesser brocade)
Middle Shō-kin (lesser brocadedo.)
Lower Shō-kin (lesser brocadedo.)
Upper Dai-sen (greater mountain)
Middle Dai-sen (greater mountaindo.)
Lower Dai-sen (greater mountaindo.)
Upper Dai-otsu (greater kingfisher[1])
Middle Dai-otsu (greater kingfisherdo.)
Lower Dai-otsu (greater kingfisherdo.)
Upper Shō-otsu (lesser kingfisher)
Middle Shō-otsu (lesser kingfisherdo.)
Lower Shō-otsu (lesser kingfisherdo.)
Dai-ken (greater ken)
Shō-ken (lesser ken)[2]

These made in all twenty-six grades. The former kwa (flower) was changed to kin (brocade), and six grades were added, beginning with Kin and ending with Otsu. There was also an augmentation and alteration by which the single grade of initial rank was changed to the two grades of Daiken and Shōken. These were made different, but in all other respects the former rule was followed.

To the senior members of the great families long swords

  1. See above, XXV. 41.
  2. Ken means to set up, to establish. These two grades correspond to the Risshin or Kembu named above, XXV. 41.