also: りっかん · ろっかん
six ministries of Zhou dynasty China
Historical term referring to the six major administrative departments of the Zhou dynasty: Heaven, Earth, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter offices. Used in discussions of ancient Chinese government.
The six ministries of Zhou consist of the Offices of Heaven, Earth, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Rare alternate reading; mostly found in older texts.
From Chinese 六官 (liùguān), literally 'six offices'. The term entered Japanese through classical Chinese texts and is used in historical contexts.