Provincial Titles

• • See also: Court Titles, Imperial Titles, Be, Uji, Sesshō and Kampaku
    

This pages serves to list the various Provincial Titles used in the past and up to this day.

No doubt this page will continue to be updated as we continue our research. This page may also merge with Imperial and Court Title at a later date if we feel it necessary.

Agatanushi

• • Agatanushi – (県主) This position was given to those who governed over small territories called ‘agata.’ ‘Nushi‘ in this title meaning Chief. These areas were smaller than larger ‘kuni‘ and existed during the Kunigata System of adminstration during the time of the Yamato Court. Originally it was thought the Agatanushi were hereditary chieftains from small tribal states known as bozoko kokka.¹
  • We see an early mentioning of this title (and kuni no miyatsuko) during the reign of Emperor Seimu when he gives Takeuchi no Sukune the title of Ōomi (大臣) to oversee the Ōkuniōkuni no kuni no miyatsuko (Rulers of the Great Countries and Small Countries) and Ōagata ōagata no agata nushi (Department Lords of the Great and Small Departments).³⁴

Gunji

• • Gunji – (郡司) This position was given to people to govern the administration of a gun (district), which was a smaller part of a larger kuni under the Ritsuryo System. This position was under the jurisdiction of the kokushi. In total there were four gunji ranks performing such tasks as law enforcement and land registration. These people would come from the local chiefs (kuni no miyatsuko). These positions were hereditary and were appointed for life. Should peasant uprisings occour it is often we saw the gunji siding with the people and not the kokushi. This post eventually dissapeared with the rise of shōen, with the former office holders becoming leaders of warrior bands known as bushidan.¹

Kokushi

• • Kokushi – (国司 – National Masters²) This was one of the provincial titles given to adminstrators (shi) of a Province (kuni) under the Ritsuryo System. In total there were four classes kami (守 – Governor), suke (介 – Vice-Governor), jō (掾 – Commisioner) and sakan (目 – Inspector). The term kokushi originally applied to all of these ranks, but later would only apply to kami. Those that held these position were usually chosen from central government and assigned to a kokufu (Provincial Headquarters) for a period of 4 to 6 years where they were given income from state lands for their support. Their duties involved, the supervision of the military, police, land registry and tax bureau. During the middle of the 10th centruy with the rise of shōen the authority of the kokushi declined and it became an empty title. However, this title was still used during the Muromachi Period for its prestige.¹ They would be assisted by the Shugo.²

Kuni no Miyatsuko

• • See: List of people who held this title.
  • Kuni no Miyatsuko – (国造) This was a position held by local chiefs of ‘kuni’ during the 6th and 7th centuries and often we see them given honorific titles of Omi, kimi and atae. By 645 and the Taika Reform this position was replaced by the Kuni no mikotomochi and Kokushi.¹² Between the Taika Reforms and the start of the Kokugun System the kuni no miyatsuko system was abandoned but the title was retained by those presiding over Shinto Rites in the kuni. This later role became known as the Shin Kokuzō (‘New’ Kuni no Miyatsuko) as kokuzō is an alternate way to read the Kanji for miyatsuko.¹
  • We see an early mentioning of this title (and agata nushi) during the reign of Emperor Seimu when he gives Takeuchi no Sukune the title of Ōomi (大臣) to oversee the Ōkuniōkuni no kuni no miyatsuko (Rulers of the Great Countries and Small Countries) and Ōagata ōagata no agata nushi (Department Lords of the Great and Small Departments).³⁴

Shugo

• • Shugo – (守護 – Military Governor) This was one of the provincial titles during the Kamakura Period and of which only warriors from the Kanto area could attain this position.² The origins of the position may have been during the Taira-Minamoto war when people seem to have been irregularly given this position. It was only authorised nationally in 1185.¹ They were military leaders of a shōen or a kuni which represented the shogun² and they, with the jitō were the major governing posts during the Kamakura Shogunate.¹
  • Overall they had a limited authority and were required to defer to the bakufu or even shogun if it pertained to a serious matter. They would assist the Kokushi and were specifically in charge of recruiting soldiers and maintaining public order.² Additionally they had some criminal jurisdiction over some types of offenders and also held limited authority over the gokenin. Their criminal jurisdiction covered murder and rebellion, though these responsibilites (called Daibon Sankajō and dating to the 1190’s) were not formalised until 1232 in the Goseibai Shikimoku. The only real power they held was to organise and lead a palace guard duty (Ōban’yaku) in Kyoto.¹
  • For the time they held this position they rarely visited the province they watched over, leaving that to deputies (shugodai) of which there was only one per province. This changed after the Mongol Invasion in 1274 when shugo were then required to live in their province.¹
  • The title of shugo was not hereditary and did not include the right to income producing lands. They were also prohibited from confirming the private land rights of the gokenin, except for pro-forma validations of the Shogunates own confirmation (ando).¹
  • In the 1280’s we see the Hōjo Family having many members with the title of shugo until their destruction in the 1330’s, During the Muromachi Period only four or five people retained this title. Afterwards we see a new wave of shugo from the Ashikaga Family and from local jitō.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
4. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.

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• See also: List of Provinces

Yamato Province

Yamato Province (大和国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Nara Prefecture.¹²

Inception

During its inception, when the Kokugen System came into effect, it stayed as the centre of government and culture from the 4th century until 784. It then moved to Yamashiro Province and the city of Nagaokakyō.¹

Legendary Period

The Jinnō Shōtōki relates during the reign of Emperor Sujin he summoned the kami Ishikoridome and a descendant of Amatsumara to the village of Uda in this province to fashion a new Sacred Mirror and Sword.

The originals were then entrusted to Toyosukiiribime who built a sacred enclosure in Kasanui in Yamato to worship them in.⁴

After Yamato Takeru died his spirit as a bird flew to Kotobiki in Yamato Province and then Furuchi in Kahachi before finally flying to Takamagahara. A misasagi for him was also built here.⁵

Kofun Period

It is likely the Haji Clan came from Izumo to Yamato during the 5th century as the Yamato Court arose here. Legends say they came directly, but archaeological evidence shows they slowly emmigrated leaving settlements in Mimasaka and Harima Province.³ The Abe Clan was also based here.¹

Heian Period

By the time of the Heian period the province came under control of the Kōfukuji, Tōdaiji and other great temples.¹

Kamakura and Muromachi Period

During the Kamakura and Muromachi period it is known that Shugo (Provincial Contables) were not appointed here by the shogunate and so this area remained under the control of Kōfukuji. Due to this, Samurai forces here expanded under the temple’s influence.

In 1576 Oda Nobunaga finally appointed a shugo to this province.¹

Edo Period

After the start of the Edo Period, the Province was divided into 7 domains with the city of Nara administered by a shogunal commissioner (Bugyō).¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
4. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
5. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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• See also: List of Provinces

Yamashiro Province

Yamashiro Province (山城国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Kyoto Prefecture.¹ The Shinsen Shōjiroku shows the Haji Clan dwelt in this province amongst others.³

Inception

One of the 5 central (kinai) provinces, established under the Kokugun System in 646AD, this area was already settled in the 5th Century by the Hata Family and other naturalised Korean families (Kikajin).²

Legendary Period

During the reign of Emperor Sujin it is said that Ohobiko battles against Takehaniyasuhiko here.⁴⁵⁶

In Emperor Suinin’s reign it is said the Imperial Prince Hikoimasu married Yenahime in this province and that Matonuhime tried to kill herself by hanging from a tree. The area she did so becoming known as Sagariki (hanging tree).⁴⁵

Additionally Suinin heard of and married Kanibatatobe whilst visiting here. Vowing to make her his wife he sees an omen in the form of a large tortoise in a river. The Emperor throwing his spear at the tortoise sees it turn into a white stone and following this he sends for Kanibatatobe and they are wed.⁶

Nara Period

Between 741-44AD this Province held the offical residence of Emperor Shōmu at Kuni no Miya in the southern part of Province. Yamashiro became the site of the capital when Nagaokakyō was made in 784. Ten years later the capital moved to again Heiankyo (Kyoto), still in this Province. The province remained the govermental seat until the 1868 Meiji Restoration.²

Dissolution

After the Meiji Reformation this province became Kyoto and Yodo Prefectures, however thry were consolidated in Kyoto Prefecture on November 22 1871.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
4. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
5. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
6. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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• Co-ordinates: 34°34′N 135°46′E
• Island: Honshu
• Region: Kansai
• Capital: Nara

• See also: Yamato Province
  
• See also: List of Prefectures.

Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture (奈良県 – Nara-ken) is located on the island of Honshu. As a land-locked Prefecture it is bordered on all sides. Kyoto Prefecture to the North, Mie to the West, Wakayama on its southern border; and Osaka Prefecture to the west.

Geography

Rivers:

The principal rivers of the prefecture are the Yoshinogawa, Yamatogawa and Totsugawa

Mountains:

Aside from the Nara Basin which can be found to the north, and the Yamato Kōgen highlands,  mountains encompass most of Nara. Along the west, the Ikoma and Kongō mountains are located, with the Kii Mountains found to the south.¹ The three mountains collectively known as Yamato Sanzan can be found here. Traditionally one is said to have descended from Heaven², and another to be the mountain where the first Emperor, Jimmu, was buried..¹ The religion of Shugendo is said to have been founded on Mount Katsuragi by En no Ozunu.⁴ Mount Miwa is also found here and has connections to the kami Ōkuninushi.²

Tectonic Plates:

The Median Tectonic Line run through the centre of the Prefecture towards the east and west along the Yoshinogawa..¹

History

Evidence of habitation during the Jōmon period (c.10,000-300BC) and suceeding Yayoi Period (c.300BC-300AD) has shown people to have farmed here for more than 2000 years.

Betwen the 4th and 7th centuried this area was the centre of the Yamato Court, and when the Kokugen System came into effect this area became known as Yamato Province. The city of Nara, then known as Heijōkyō was the capital of Japan up until 784 when it was moved to Nagaokakyō.

The area served for a brief time as the centre for poitical power during the time of the Northern and Southern Courts between 1337 and 1392.

Its borders were officially established in 1887.¹

Farming

Tea is grown on the higlands of the Yamato Kōgen, and persimmons are cultivated in the valley where the Yoshinogawa flows..¹

Points of Interest

The oldest road, in Japan, known as the Yamanobe no Michi, can be found in the east of the Nara Basin. The Yoshino-Kumano National Park can also be found here. In addition, a tomb called the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, dating to around 700AD can be found in the village of Asuka.¹

Yōkai

The Yōkai known as the Gagoze is said to have lived in the temple of Gango-ji in Nara City, with Kasuga Taisha being reported to have been built by the creatures known as the Hyōsube.³

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
4. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

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• See also: List of Provinces

Owari Province

Owari Province (尾張国) was once a Province of Japan, located in what is now Aichi Prefecture. Created in 646 under the Kokugun System³, it is one of the 15 Provinces traversed by the Tokaido Road.¹³ This Province is also known as Bishū (尾州).³

Legendary Period

Ceder was gathered from Ahidzu during the reign of Emperor Suinin to make a boat for Homutsuwake.⁵⁶

Yamanobe no Ohotaka would also pass through here when trying to catch a swan for prince Homutsuwake.⁵⁶

It was apparently the home of Princess Miyazu Hime, the wife of the legendary Yamato Takeru.²

The warriors Ishiura no Yokotachi, Tako no Inaki and Chichika no Inaki are said to have come from here.⁷

Nara Period

During this period we know the Priest Manzei was made General of Owari, Mikawa and Shinano Provinces.⁴

Later Periods

The area developed as the early site of the Atsuta Shrine. From the 12th century onwards it came under the domain of shugo (military governor) such as the Hatakeyama Family, Imagawa Family, Shiba Family and Oda Family.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi is known to have come from Owari.

One of Tokugawa Ieyasu‘s sons established a headquarters in Owari at Nagoya Castle.

The area flourished as a major center for rice, cotton, sake and ceramics known as seto ware.

In 1871 Owari was combined with Mikawa Province to form Aichi Prefecture.³

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Littleton. C.S. (1995) “Yamato-takeru: An Arthurian Hero in Japanese Tradition”. Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 54, No.2, pp.259-274.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
4. Miller, R. A.. (1981) “The Lost Poetic Sequence of the Priest Manzei”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.36 No.2 pp.133-172
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
6. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
7. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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• • See also: List of Provinces

Mutsu Province

Mutsu Province (陸奥国) is one of the many old Provinces of Japan. Originally known as Michinoku (陸奥 or 道奥) it was also known as Ōshu (奥州) or Rikushū and is categorized as one of the eight Tōsandō (Eastern Mountain Road) Provinces.¹² The Province was established in the early 8th Century under the Kokugun System and was historically populated by the Ezo People.¹ This area now belongs to Aomori and Iwate Prefectures.²

Heian Period

By 801AD the Ezo People had been subdued by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro through the use of frontier fortresses (saku) one of which being Izawajō.¹²

The Ōshu Fujiwara family came to control this area later in the Heian Period.¹² These Fujiwara members held their stronghold in Hiraizumi which quickly flourished as the center of military, political and cultural might for Northern Japan.¹ Fujiwara no Sanekata is known to have acted as Governor of Mutsu from 995 until his death in 998AD. He was either have been stationed there, or exiled, depending on the sources.⁴

The Abe Clan‘s power grew here and by the lifetime of Abe no Yoritoki (?-1057) had come to control the six districts of Mutsu.¹

Fujiwara no Hidehira (1096-1187) acted as governor during his lifetime.²

Kamakura Period

Isa Tomomune, who later changed his name to Date Tomomune, after helping Minamoto no Yoritomo defeat his brother Yoshitsune in 1189 was given the Date Dictrict of this province from which he made the clan name.¹²

Muromachi Period

During the Muromachi Period this area falls under the control of the Date Clan in the south and the Nambu Clan in the north and by the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate the territory was divided amongst 20 daimyō domains (known as han). The areas of Aizu and Sendai were the most powerful of them.¹

Date Masamune (1567-1635) extended the clan territories by taking over 30 districts in Mutsu and Dewa Provinces ultimately defeating the Ashina Family in 1589.¹²

Supernatural Connections

The Province is noted to have been the home of the Yōkai known as the Kurozuka, living in Adachi. This is written about in the 10th Century Yamato Monogatari.³

Fujiwara no Sanekata (mentioned above) is also said to have transformed into the Yōkai known as the Nyūnai-Suzume while in this Province.⁴

In the 35th year of Empress Suiko’s reign it is said a Mujina performed a song for her here.³

Additionally the folktale known as The Oni of Adachigahara is set in this province.⁵

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: over Publications, Inc.
4. MacMillan, P. (2018) ”One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Treasury of Classical Japanese Verse”. St. Ives: Penguin Classics.
5. Ozaki, Y.T. (2015) “Japanese Fairy Tales” USA: Cavalier Classics.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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