It is commonly accepted that Benkan corresponds to Jo among the four official ranks, but there is another opinion that the bureau Benkankyoku including Benkan was established separately from Daijokan and Benkan was originally Honkan, which was not included in the system of four official ranks.
通説においては四等官の中の判官（じょう）に相当するが、異説として弁官を含めた弁官局を太政官の別局として捉え、元は本来の四等官の系列には含まない品官であったする説もある。