Koshi Province

• • See also: List of Provinces

Koshi Province

Koshi Province (越国) was an old Province of Japan.

It is said the inhabitants of this area were of foreign origins, from Manchuria and Korea. These people were known as Koshi-bito.¹

Mythical Associations

The area known as the Tsutsu Cape located here is mentioned in the ‘Land Pulling Myth’ of the Izumo Fudoki when the kami Yatsukamizu Omitsuno takes land from here to add it to Izumo Province.²

Tales from the Kojiki relate how the fearsome Dragon known as Yamata no Orochi came from this Province.³

Legendary Period

During the reign of Emperor Sujin it says he ordered Ohobiko to go there and subdue the people.³

Yamanobe no Ohotaka passed through here on his way to catch a swan for the Prince Homutsuwake.³

Asuka Period

During the Taika Reforms the Province was dissolved into the Provinces of Etchu, Echizen and Echigo.¹

Abe no Hirafu acted as Governor of this province for a time during his life.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Carlqvist, A. (2010) “The Land Pulling Myth and Some Aspects of Historical Reality”. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 37, No.2, pp.185-222.
3. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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