Provinces of Japan

Provinces of Japan (令れい制せい国こく, Ryōseikoku) were first-level administrative divisions of Japan from the 600s to 1868.

Provinces were established in Japan in the late 7th century under the Ritsuryō law system that formed the first central government. Each province was divided into districts (郡ぐん, gun) and grouped into one of the geographic regions or circuits known as the Gokishichidō (Five Home Provinces and Seven Circuits). Provincial borders often changed until the end of the Nara period (710 to 794), but remained unchanged from the Heian period (794 to 1185) until the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The provinces coexisted with the han (domain) system, the personal estates of feudal lords and warriors, and became secondary to the domains in the late Muromachi period (1336 to 1573).

The Provinces of Japan were replaced with the current prefecture system in the Fuhanken sanchisei during the Meiji Restoration from 1868 to 1871, except for Hokkaido, which was divided into provinces from 1869 to 1882. No order has ever been issued explicitly abolishing the provinces, but they are considered obsolete as administrative units. The provinces are still used in general conversation, especially in navigation and transportation, and referenced in products and geographical features of the prefectures covering their former territories.

History[edit]

The provinces were originally established by the Ritsuryō reforms as both administrative units and geographic regions. From the late Muromachi period, however, they were gradually supplanted by the domains of the sengoku daimyō. Under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during Azuchi–Momoyama period, the provinces were supplemented as primary local administrative units. The local daimyōs' fiefs were developed.^{[clarification needed]}^[1]

Edo period[edit]

In the Edo period, the fiefs became known as han. Imperial provinces and shogunal domains made up complementary systems. For example, when the shōgun ordered a daimyō to make a census or to make maps, the work was organized in terms of the boundaries of the provincial kuni.^[2]

Meiji period[edit]

At the Meiji Restoration, the han were legitimized as administrative units by the reform known as the Fuhanken Sanchisei, but they were gradually replaced by prefectures between 1868 and 1871 (urban prefectures were called fu and rural prefectures ken). Provinces as part of the system of addresses were not abolished but, on the contrary, augmented. As of 1871, the number of prefectures was 304, while the number of provinces was 68, not including Hokkaidō or the Ryūkyū Islands. The boundaries between the many prefectures were not only very complicated, but also did not match those of the provinces. Prefectures were gradually merged to reduce the number to 37 by 1881; a few were then divided to give a total of 45 by 1885. Adding Hokkaidō and Okinawa produced the current total of 47 prefectures.

Provinces are classified into Kinai (in or near the capital, then Kyoto) and seven or eight dō (routes, or circuits), collectively known as the Gokishichidō. However, dō in this context should not be confused with modern traffic lines such as the Tōkaidō from Tokyo to Kyoto or Kobe. Also, Hokkaidō in this context should not be confused with Hokkaidō Prefecture, although these two overlap geographically.

Today[edit]

No order has ever been issued explicitly abolishing the provinces, but they are considered obsolete. Nevertheless, their names are still widely used in names of natural features, company names, and brands. These province names are considered to be mainly of historical interest. They are also used for the names of items, including family names, most of which were popularized in or after the Edo period. Examples include sanuki udon, iyokan, tosa ken, Chikuzenni, and awa odori. Japan Rail and other railway stations also use them in names to distinguish themselves from similarly named stations in other prefectures, such as Musashi-Kosugi Station. The same is true for some city names, for example to distinguish Yamato-Koriyama, Nara from Koriyama, Fukushima. Simplified names of provinces (-shū) are also used, such as Shinshū soba and Kishū dog.

Some of the province names are used to indicate distinct parts of the current prefectures along with their cultural and geographical characteristics. In many cases these names are also in use with directional characters, e.g. Hoku-Setsu (北摂ほくせつ) meaning Northern (北きた) Settsu (摂津せっつ) area.

The districts are still considered prefectural subdivisions, but following mergers or divisions of the provinces they may be shared among several prefectures (such as the original Adachi District of Musashi, which is now divided between Adachi Ward in Tokyo and Kita-Adachi District in Saitama). Many of these old provincial districts have been dissolved as their chief towns have been merged into larger cities or towns. See individual prefecture pages for mergers and abolitions of districts.

The following list is based on the Gokishichidō (五ご畿七道どう), which includes short-lived provinces. Provinces located within Hokkaidō are listed last.

Goki (五ご畿, Five Provinces in Capital Region)[edit]

Map of the Gokishichidō divisions with their respective regions. Hokkaidō and its provinces are not included; in 1869, when Hokkaidō was included, it was called Gokihachidō.

Kinai

Tōkaidō Tōsandō Hokurikudō

San'indō San'yōdō Nankaidō

Saikaidō

Kinai (畿内きない, Capital Region)[edit]

Yamashiro (Jōshū, Sanshū, Yōshū) (山城やましろ国こく (城ぐすく州しゅう, 山やま州しゅう, 雍州))
Yamato (Washū) (大和やまと国こく (和かず州しゅう))
- c. 716 – c. 738
  - Yamato (大和やまと国こく)
  - Yoshino (芳野よしの監かん)
Kawachi (Kashū) (河内かわうち国こく (河かわ州しゅう))
Izumi (Senshū) (和泉いずみ国こく (泉州せんしゅう)) - Created in 716 from Kawachi Province as Izumi Gen (和泉いずみ監かん). Although occupied by Kawachi Province in 740, in 757 the province divided again from Kawachi Province.
Settsu (Sesshū) (摂津せっつ国こく (摂と州しゅう))

Shichidō (七道しちどう, Seven Circuits)[edit]

Tōkaidō (東海道とうかいどう, East Sea Circuit)[edit]

Iga (Ishū) (伊賀いが国こく (伊い州しゅう)) – separated from Ise Province in 680
Ise (Seishū) (伊勢いせ国こく (勢いきおい州しゅう))
Shima (Shishū) (志摩しま国こく (志しむら州しゅう)) – separated from Ise Province at the beginning of the 8th century
Owari (Bishū) (尾張おわり国こく (尾お州しゅう))
Mikawa (Sanshū) (三河みかわ国こく (三さん州しゅう))
Tōtōmi (Enshū) (遠江とおとうみ国こく (遠とお州しゅう))
Suruga (Sunshū) (駿河するが国こく (駿しゅん州しゅう))
Izu (Zushū) (伊豆いず国こく (豆まめ州しゅう)) – separated from Suruga Province in 680
Kai (Kōshū) (甲斐かい国こく (甲州こうしゅう))
Sagami (Sōshū) (相模さがみ国こく (相州あいしゅう))
Musashi (Bushū) (武蔵むさし国こく (武たけ州しゅう)) – Transferred from Tōsandō to Tōkaidō in 771
Awa (Bōshū, Anshū) (安房あわ国こく (房州ぼうしゅう, 安やす州しゅう)) – Divided from Kazusa Province in 718. Although re-joined to Kazusa Province in 741, separated from Kazusa Province again in 781
Kazusa (Sōshū) (上総かずさ国こく (総そう州しゅう)) – divided from Fusa Province (総そう国くに) in the 7th century
Shimōsa (Sōshū) (下総しもうさ国こく (総そう州しゅう)) – divided from Fusa Province in the 7th century
Hitachi (Jōshū) (常陸ひたち国こく (常つね州しゅう))

Tōsandō (東山ひがしやま道みち, East Mountain Circuit)[edit]

Ōmi (Gōshū) (近江おうみ国こく (江え州しゅう))
Mino (Nōshū) (美濃みの国こく (濃こ州しゅう))
Hida (Hishū) (飛騨ひだ国こく (飛とび州しゅう))
Shinano (Shinshū) (信濃しなの国こく (信州しんしゅう))
- from 721 to 731
  - Suwa (諏訪すわ国こく)
  - Shinano (信濃しなの国こく)
Kōzuke (Jōshū) (上野うえの国こく (上うえ州しゅう)) – divided from Keno Province (毛もう野の国こく) during the 4th century
Shimotsuke (Yashū) (下野げや国こく (野の州しゅう)) – divided from Keno Province during the 4th century
Dewa (Ushū) (出羽でわ国こく (羽はね州しゅう)) – broke Dewa District in Echigo Province and create Dewa Province in 712. On October of the same year, Mogami and Okitama Districts in Mutsu Province merged into Dewa Province.
- Since the 1868 breakup
  - Uzen (Ushū) (羽前うぜん国こく (羽はね州しゅう))
  - Ugo (Ushū) (羽後うご国こく (羽はね州しゅう))
Mutsu (Ōshū, Rikushū) (陸奥みちのく国こく (奥州おうしゅう, 陸くが州しゅう)) – split off from Hitachi Province in the 7th century
- 718 for several years
  - Iwaki (石城せきじょう国こく)
  - Iwase (石いし背せ国こく)
  - Mutsu (陸奥みちのく国こく)
- Since the 1868 breakup
  - Iwashiro (Ganshū) (岩代いわしろ国こく (岩いわ州しゅう))
  - Iwaki (Banshū) (磐城いわき国こく (磐いわお州しゅう))
  - Rikuchū (Rikushū) (陸りく中国ちゅうごく (陸くが州しゅう))
  - Rikuzen (Rikushū) (陸前りくぜん国こく (陸くが州しゅう))
  - Mutsu (陸奥みちのく国こく)

Hokurikudō (北陸ほくりく道どう, North Land Circuit)[edit]

Wakasa (Jakushū) (若狭わかさ国こく (若州わかす))
Echizen (Esshū) (越前えちぜん国こく (越こし州しゅう)) – broke off from Koshi Province (越えつ国こく) during the end of the 7th century
Kaga (Kashū) (加賀かが国こく (加州かしゅう)) – divided from Echizen Province in 823
Noto (Nōshū) (能登のと国こく (能のう州しゅう)) – divided from Echizen Province in 718. Although occupied by Etchu Province in 741, divided from Etchū Province in 757
Etchū (Esshū) (越えつ中国ちゅうごく (越こし州しゅう)) – broke off from Koshi Province during the end of the 7th century
Echigo (Esshū) (越後えちご国こく (越こし州しゅう)) – broke off from Koshi Province during the end of the 7th century
Sado (Sashū, Toshū) (佐渡さど国こく (佐さ州しゅう, 渡わたし州しゅう)) – although occupied by Echigo in 743, divided from Echigo in 752

San'indō (山陰さんいん道どう, Mountain's Shady Side Circuit)[edit]

Tanba (Tanshū) (丹波たんば国こく (丹に州しゅう))
Tango (Tanshū) (丹後たんご国こく (丹に州しゅう)) – divided from Tanba in 713
Tajima (Tanshū) (但馬たじま国こく (但ただし州しゅう))
Inaba (Inshū) (因幡いなば国こく (因いん州しゅう))
Hōki (Hakushū) (伯耆ほうき国こく (伯はく州しゅう))
Izumo (Unshū) (出雲いずも国こく (雲くも州しゅう))
Iwami (Sekishū) (石見いわみ国こく (石いし州しゅう))
Oki (Onshū, Inshū) (隠岐おき国こく (隠かくれ州しゅう))

San'yōdō (山陽さんよう道どう, Mountain's Sunny Side Circuit)[edit]

Harima (Banshū) (播磨はりま国こく (播州ばんしゅう))
Mimasaka (Sakushū) (美作みさく国こく (作さく州しゅう)) – divided from Bizen Province in 713
Bizen (Bishū) (備前びぜん国こく (備州)) – broke off from Kibi (吉備きび国こく) during the 2nd half of the 7th century
Bitchū (Bishū) (備中びっちゅう国こく (備州)) – broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of the 7th century
Bingo (Bishū) (備後びんご国こく (備州)) – broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of the 7th century
Aki (Geishū) (安芸あき国こく (芸げい州しゅう))
Suō (Bōshū) (周防すおう国こく (防ぼう州しゅう))
Nagato (Chōshū) (長門ながと国こく (長州ちょうしゅう))

Nankaidō (南海なんかい道どう, South Sea Circuit)[edit]

Equivalent to Shikoku and its surroundings, as well as a nearby area of Honshu

Kii (Kishū) (紀伊きい国こく (紀州きしゅう))
Awaji (Tanshū) (淡路あわじ国こく (淡あわ州しゅう))
Awa (Ashū) (阿波あわ国こく (阿おもね州しゅう))
Sanuki (Sanshū) (讃岐さぬき国こく (讃さん州しゅう))
Iyo (Yoshū) (伊予いよ国こく (予よ州しゅう))
Tosa (Doshū) (土佐とさ国こく (土はに州しゅう))

Saikaidō (西海にしうみ道みち, West Sea Circuit)[edit]

Equivalent to Kyushu and its surroundings

Buzen (Hōshū) (豊前ぶぜん国こく (豊ゆたか州しゅう)) – broke off from Toyo Province (豊国ほうこく) at the end of the 7th century
Bungo (Hōshū) (豊後ぶんご国こく (豊ゆたか州しゅう)) – broke off from Toyo Province at the end of the 7th century
Chikuzen (Chikushū) (筑前ちくぜん国こく (筑州)) – broke off from Tsukushi Province (筑紫つくし国こく) until the end of the 7th century
Chikugo (Chikushū) (筑後ちくご国こく (筑州)) – broke off from Tsukushi Province until the end of the 7th century
Hizen (Hishū) (肥前ひぜん国こく (肥こえ州しゅう)) – broke off from Hi Province (火ひ国こく) until the end of the 7th century
Higo (Hishū) (肥後ひご国こく (肥こえ州しゅう)) – broke off from Hi Province until the end of the 7th century
Hyūga (Nisshū, Kōshū) (日向ひなた国こく (日にち州しゅう, 向州むこうす)) – earlier called Kumaso Province (熊くま曾国)
Ōsumi (Gūshū) (大隅おおすみ国こく (隅すみ州しゅう)) – divided from Hyūga Province in 713
- From 702 to 824
  - Ōsumi (大隅おおすみ国こく)
  - Tane (多た褹国)
Satsuma (Sasshū) (薩摩さつま国こく (薩州)) – divided from Hyūga Province in 702
Iki (Isshū) (壱岐いき国こく (壱いち州しゅう)) – officially Iki no Shima (壱岐いき嶋しま)
Tsushima (Taishū) (対馬つしま国こく (対たい州しゅう)) – officially Tsushima no Shima (対たい馬嶋まじま)

Hachidō (八道はちどう, Eight Circuits)[edit]

Hokkaidō (北海道ほっかいどう, North Sea Circuit)[edit]

Equivalent to Hokkaido and its surroundings. Originally known as the Ezo Region, before being renamed and organized as 11 provinces (1869–1882).

Oshima (渡島ととう国こく)
Shiribeshi (後志しりべ国こく)
Iburi (胆振いぶり国こく)
Ishikari (石狩いしかり国こく)
Teshio (天塩てしお国こく)
Kitami (北見きたみ国こく)
Hidaka (日高ひだか国こく)
Tokachi (十勝とかち国こく)
Kushiro (釧路くしろ国こく)
Nemuro (根室ねむろ国こく)
Chishima (千せん島国しまぐに) - After the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), Japan added north of Urup Island and placed Uruppu (得とく撫なで郡ぐん), Shimushiru (新知しんち郡ぐん), and Shumushu (占うらない守もり郡ぐん) Districts.

Gallery[edit]

Borders of the provinces from the Kamakura period until 1868.
Map of Japan at the end of the Edo period published in the United States in 1855.
Meiji period map of Japan's provinces from ca. 1880s, after their replacement with the prefectures.

Notes[edit]

^ Mass, Jeffrey P. and William B. Hauser. (1987). The Bakufu in Japanese History, p. 150.
^ Roberts, Luke S. (2002). Mercantilism in a Japanese Domain: the merchant origins of economic nationalism in 18th-century Tosa, p. 6; excerpt, "Imperial provinces "remained on the cultural map as commonly used definers of territorial regions called kuni ... because when the shogun ordered populations registers and maps to be made, he had them organized along the borders of the provincial kuni. This has been interpreted as important evidence of the shogun's styled role as a servant of the emperor, one of the important means by which he legitimized his authority."

References[edit]

Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128

External links[edit]

Detailed maps of the provinces at different times can be found at:

[1] Mass, Jeffrey P. and William B. Hauser. (1987). The Bakufu in Japanese History, p. 150.

[2] Roberts, Luke S. (2002). Mercantilism in a Japanese Domain: the merchant origins of economic nationalism in 18th-century Tosa, p. 6; excerpt, "Imperial provinces "remained on the cultural map as commonly used definers of territorial regions called kuni ... because when the shogun ordered populations registers and maps to be made, he had them organized along the borders of the provincial kuni. This has been interpreted as important evidence of the shogun's styled role as a servant of the emperor, one of the important means by which he legitimized his authority."

[1]

[2]

v t e Former provinces of Japan (List)
Kinai	Izumi Kawachi Settsu Yamashiro Yamato Yoshino 716–738
Tōkaidō	Awa Hitachi Iga Ise Izu Kai Kazusa Mikawa Musashi Owari Sagami Shima Shimōsa Suruga Tōtōmi
Tōsandō	Dewa -1869 Hida Iwaki 718–724 Iwaki 1869– Iwase 718–724 Iwashiro 1869– Kōzuke Mino Ōmi Mutsu –1869 Rikuō (or Mutsu) 1869– Rikuchū 1869– Rikuzen 1869– Shimotsuke Shinano Suwa 721–731 Ugo 1869– Uzen 1869–
Hokurikudō	Echigo Echizen Etchū Kaga Noto Sado Wakasa
San'indō	Hōki Inaba Izumo Iwami Oki Tajima Tanba Tango
San'yōdō	Aki Bingo Bitchū Bizen Harima Mimasaka Nagato Suō
Nankaidō	Awa Awaji Iyo Kii Sanuki Tosa
Saikaidō	Bungo Buzen Chikugo Chikuzen Higo Hizen Hyūga Iki Ōsumi Satsuma Tane 702–824 Tsushima
Hokkaidō 1869–	Chishima Hidaka Iburi Ishikari Kitami Kushiro Nemuro Oshima Shiribeshi Teshio Tokachi
Pre-Taihō Code provinces	Chichibu Fusa Hi Keno Kibi Koshi Kumaso Toyo Tsukushi
Source: Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 780, p. 780, at Google Books; excerpt, "Japan's former provinces were converted into prefectures by the Meiji government ... [and] grouped, according to geographic position, into the 'five provinces of the Kinai' and 'seven circuits'."