The organization of the officialdom under the Taiho-Ryo (_??__??__??_) (Taiho Code), which laid down on the model of the Law of -Tang Era of China, accomplished on the foundation of the ancient social customs and institutions gradually formed before the Taika Era.The present treatise is mainly to enquire into the way how the heads of powerful families in the country used to be appointed and placed in the organization of the officialdom-the circumstances of appointment-and, above all, the institution of (_??__??_) or the chief of an ancient Japanese administrative district.According to the Taiho-Ryo, the appointment of the government officials made, as a general rule, in consideration of the candidates' abilities and moral characters. However, it has been often pointed out that the Taiho Government from time to time appointed as the heads of powerful families id the country or old hereditary landowners.Thus, the present treatise consists of the folhwing items :(1) A general view of the local administrative institution before the Taika Era.(2) A table, in which practical examples of the appointments of during the periods ranging from the Taika Rescript in the year 646 to the Proclamation of the Taiho-Ryo in the year 702, are shown, together with the observation of the origin and social standing of Gun-ji were appointed from among the heads of powerful families in the country, their positions being low 'in the official ranks.(3) An inquiry on the character and the function of (_??__??_) (outer court ranks in the Law. of Taiho). Ge-i were the court ranks given. to the heads of powerful families in the country whose representatives were Gun-ji. (4) A comparative study on and (_??__??__??_) in the Law of T'ang Dynasty of China. The regulations concerning as government official were modelled upon those of which was the lowest official rank in the Law of T'ang Dynasty of China.The above-mentioned inquiries, as a conclusion, show that the regulations concerning were never a mere imitation of those of Liu-wai-kuan in the Law of T'ang Dynasty, but were laid down due to the settled and consistent policy of the central government authorities to suppress and control the class of the powerful families in the country.