Yōrō Code

The Yōrō Code (養老律令, Yōrō-ritsuryō) was one iteration of several codes or governing rules compiled in the early Nara period in Classical Japan. It was compiled in 718, the second year of the Yōrōregnal era by Fujiwara no Fuhito et al., but not promulgated until 757 under the regime of Fujiwara no Nakamaro under Empress Kōken.

The penal code portions (ritsu) were largely lost, although they have been reconstructed. The content of the civil code portions (ryō) is preserved nearly fully, copied out in later texts.