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[[Image:Dazaifu.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The site of the Dazaifu government headquarters.]]

[[Image:Dazaifu.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The site of the Dazaifu government headquarters.]]

*''Japanese'': 大宰府 ''(Dazaifu)''

*''Japanese'': 大宰府 ''(Dazaifu)''

::''This article is about the regional government headquarters. For the city, see [[Dazaifu (city)]].''

::''This article is about the regional government headquarters. For the city, see [[Dazaifu (city)]].''

Located in [[Dazaifu (city)|the city of the same name]]<ref>Though written with different characters: 太宰府市. ("Dazaifu." ''Daijirin'' 大辞林. Sanseido Co. Ltd.)</ref>, the Dazaifu served during the [[Heian period]] as the administrative center for governing [[Kyushu]] on behalf of the Court in [[Heian-kyo|Heian-kyô]] (Kyoto), overseeing the nine provinces and three islands<ref>Only two islands after [[824]].</ref> of the [[Saikaido|Saikaidô]] or Kyushu region. The Dazaifu managed both domestic/internal affairs, and foreign affairs, including the reception of foreign dignitaries and shore defenses. The Dazaifu claimed a monopoly on authorized, legitimate foreign trade throughout the Heian period, though numerous local power-holders (''[[kenmon]]'') and others flouted these controls; by the end of the 12th century, the Dazaifu had "definitively lost its monopoly over maritime trade," as power-holders such as the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] and [[Taira clan]]s, [[kuge|aristocrat families]], temples, and shrines increasingly skirted Dazaifu procedures or oversight in conducting foreign trade themselves.<ref>Richard von Glahn, "The Ningbo-Hakata Merchant Network and the Reorientation of East Asian Maritime Trade, 1150-1350," ''Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies'' 74:2 (2014), 268.</ref>

Located in [[Dazaifu (city)|the city of the same name]]<ref>Though written with different characters: 太宰府市. ("Dazaifu." ''Daijirin'' 大辞林. Sanseido Co. Ltd.)</ref> and established in [[701]],<ref>Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugo Shima Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207212/sizes/4k/]</ref> the Dazaifu served during the [[Nara period|Nara]] and [[Heian period]]s as the administrative center for governing [[Kyushu]] on behalf of the Imperial Court, overseeing the nine provinces and three islands<ref>Only two islands after [[824]].</ref> of the [[Saikaido|Saikaidô]] or Kyushu region. The Dazaifu managed both domestic/internal affairs, and foreign affairs, including the reception of foreign dignitaries and shore defenses. The Dazaifu claimed a monopoly on authorized, legitimate foreign trade throughout the Heian period, though numerous local power-holders (''[[kenmon]]'') and others flouted these controls; by the end of the 12th century, the Dazaifu had "definitively lost its monopoly over maritime trade," as power-holders such as the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] and [[Taira clan]]s, [[kuge|aristocrat families]], temples, and shrines increasingly skirted Dazaifu procedures or oversight in conducting foreign trade themselves.<ref>Richard von Glahn, "The Ningbo-Hakata Merchant Network and the Reorientation of East Asian Maritime Trade, 1150-1350," ''Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies'' 74:2 (2014), 268.</ref>

After the end of the Heian period, the offices fell into disuse, and the city of Dazaifu transformed into a more rural community, as it remains today.

After the end of the Heian period, the offices fell into disuse, and the city of Dazaifu transformed into a more rural community, as it remains today.

Like the [[Heian Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]], aristocratic mansions, and many other elite sites of the [[Nara period|Nara]] and Heian periods, the Dazaifu compound was oriented towards the south. The main gate to the south, a large red wooden structure, was used to receive foreign embassies and other important visitors, while a small door in the ''tsujibei'' walls off to the sides of the gate were used by the Dazaifu officials for their everyday comings and goings. This Southern Gate (南門, ''nanmon''), along with the Central Gate (中門, ''chûmon''), were the first to be excavated, in 1968. Examining the foundation stones, it was determined that these gates dated to the Heian period, and must have replaced earlier Nara period structures.

Like the [[Heian Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]], aristocratic mansions, and many other elite sites of the [[Nara period|Nara]] and Heian periods, the Dazaifu compound was oriented towards the south. The main gate to the south, a large red wooden structure, was used to receive foreign embassies and other important visitors, while a small door in the ''tsujibei'' walls off to the sides of the gate were used by the Dazaifu officials for their everyday comings and goings. This Southern Gate (南門, ''nanmon''), along with the Central Gate (中門, ''chûmon''), were the first to be excavated, in 1968. Examining the foundation stones, it was determined that these gates dated to the Heian period, and must have replaced earlier Nara period structures.

The Main Hall, or ''Seiden'' (正殿), of the Dazaifu government complex was where the head of the Dazaifu government, known as a ''[[sochi]]'' (帥), governed from. Various rituals and ceremonies were performed here, and it housed the ''sochi's'' personal office as well. Functioning like a miniature version of the central government in Kyoto, Dazaifu supervised and controlled the various provinces of Kyushu. It is thought that, just like in the New Year's celebrations in the Imperial Capital, on New Year's, the various officials (国司 , ''[[kokushi]]'') of Kyushu would gather for ceremonies in the Seiden at Dazaifu. In order to maintain order in Kyushu, the Seiden was thus built to express great majesty and dignity.

The Main Hall, or ''Seiden'' (正殿), of the Dazaifu government complex was where the head of the Dazaifu government, known as a ''[[sochi]]'' (帥), governed from. Various rituals and ceremonies were performed here, and it housed the ''sochi's'' personal office as well. Functioning like a miniature version of the central government in Kyoto, Dazaifu supervised and controlled the various provinces of Kyushu. It is thought that, just like in the New Year's celebrations in the Imperial Capital, on New Year's, the various officials (国司 , ''[[kokushi (governors)|kokushi]]'') of Kyushu would gather for ceremonies in the Seiden at Dazaifu. In order to maintain order in Kyushu, the Seiden was thus built to express great majesty and dignity.

The "gouden" or "ushirodono" (後殿) was a structure which sat behind the main hall in the complex. While the main hall would have been used for formal meetings, particularly receiving visitors from the capital or elsewhere, this "Rear Palace" was used for more practical, everyday bureaucratic affairs. Two towers flanked the Rear Palace to the east and west.

The "gouden" or "ushirodono" (後殿) was a structure which sat behind the main hall in the complex. While the main hall would have been used for formal meetings, particularly receiving visitors from the capital or elsewhere, this "Rear Palace" was used for more practical, everyday bureaucratic affairs. Two towers flanked the Rear Palace to the east and west.