According to the Ancient 'ritsuryo sei' (Japanese legal system), the living of the nobility which consisted of 'kugyo' and lower-ranked 'kanjin' (government officials) was secured by the income based on the 'horoku seido' (stipend system) which was designated by the 'ritsuryo ho' (ritsuryo law).
古代律令制においては、公卿以下の官人を構成する貴族階層の生活は律令法で定められた封禄制度によって支えられてきた。