Shi of Daijokan were also called Hachishi, meaning eight Shi, because they belonged to Benkankyoku headed by Benkan, which was divided into Sabenkankyoku and Ubenkankyoku, in each of which there were two for each of Sadaishi, Udaishi, Sashoshi, and Ushoshi, i.e., eight Shi in total.
太政官の史は、弁官が率いる弁官局に属しており、同局が左右に分かれていることから、左大史・右大史・左大史・左少史に各2名合わせて8名存在することから八史（はちし）とも呼ばれた。