Ritsuryo (律令) is the historical law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. The political system in accord to Ritsuryo is called "Ritsuryo-sei" (律令制). Kyaku (格) or Shiki (式) are amendments to Ritsuryo.
During late Asuka period (late 6th century - 710) and Nara period (710 - 794), the imperial court, trying to replicate China's rigorous political system, created and enforced some collections of Ritsuryo. Later, Ritsuryo had become obsolete, as the shogunate came to be the principal political system where the code of samurai was respected.
Major establishments of Ritsuryo were:
- Asuka-kiyomihara-ryō (飛鳥浄御原令; 689) - 22 volumes.
- Taihō-ritsuryō (大宝律令; 701) - it was now lost.
- Yōrō-ritsuryō (養老律令; 718) - it was the revised edition of the Taihō-ritsuryō. Done by Fujiwara no Fuhito and others.
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsuryo under GFDL
