| Under the Ritsuryo system (administrative and legal system adopted by Japan from China in the seventh and eighth century) the term "Hikan" referred to clerks who were attached to low ranked officials who in turn were attached to senior officials. |
律令制下、日本の官制において上級官庁に附属する下級官庁ないし下級官庁に附属する官吏をいった。 |