The class system under ritsuryo law is characterized by the division of the people roughly into two groups, ryo (law-abiding people)/sen (humble or lowly people), and shinabe (technicians in offices) with zakko (special technicians) who were descendants of benotami (officers and people serving the Yamato dynasty) from pre-Taika era placed in between them.
律令法の身分制度は人民を良・賤（せん）に二大別することを特徴とし、両者の中間に大化前代の部民（べのたみ）の後身である品部（しなべ）、雑戸（ざつこ）の身分がおかれた。