冠かん位い

noun

cap rank system; court rank system by headgear colors

Historical term referring to the ancient Japanese system of indicating court ranks through the colors of official caps or headgear. Used in discussions of pre-Heian period history.

• 冠かん位い十じゅう二に階かいは、推すい古こ天皇てんのうの時じ代だいに制せい定ていされた。

  The twelve cap ranks were established in the reign of Empress Suiko.