Shoten' staff consists of 12 members who are officials appointed with the Emperor's approval (such officials were called soninkan, and the position of soninkan was sometimes given as an honorary post), and they take partial charge of Court rituals.
「掌典」は12人を定員とされ、奏任官（名誉職とすることもできた。）とし、祭事を分掌する。