Provinces of Japan

Provinces of Japan (Ling Zhi Guo , Ryoseikoku) were first-level administrative divisions of Japan from the 600s to 1868.

Provinces were established in Japan in the late 7th century under the Ritsuryo law system that formed the first central government. Each province was divided into districts (Jun , gun) and grouped into one of the geographic regions or circuits known as the Gokishichido (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.

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

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

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 Hokkaido or the Ryukyu 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 Hokkaido 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 do (routes, or circuits), collectively known as the Gokishichido. However, do in this context should not be confused with modern traffic lines such as the Tokaido from Tokyo to Kyoto or Kobe. Also, Hokkaido in this context should not be confused with Hokkaido Prefecture, although these two overlap geographically.

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 Railways and other railway companies also use them in station names to distinguish between 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 (-shu) are also used, such as Shinshu soba and Kishu 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 (Bei She ) meaning Northern (Bei ) Settsu (She Jin ) 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 Gokishichido (Wu Ji Qi Dao ), which includes short-lived provinces. Provinces located within Hokkaido are listed last.

• Yamashiro (Joshu, Sanshu, Yoshu) (Shan Cheng Guo (Cheng Zhou , Shan Zhou , Yong Zhou ))
• Yamato (Washu) (Da He Guo (He Zhou ))
  • c. 716 - c. 738
    • Yamato (Da He Guo )
    • Yoshino (Fang Ye Jian )
• Kawachi (Kashu) (He Nei Guo (He Zhou ))
• Izumi (Senshu) (He Quan Guo (Quan Zhou )) - Created in 716 from Kawachi Province as Izumi Gen (He Quan Jian ). Although occupied by Kawachi Province in 740, in 757 the province divided again from Kawachi Province.
• Settsu (Sesshu) (She Jin Guo (She Zhou ))

• Iga (Ishu) (Yi He Guo (Yi Zhou )) - separated from Ise Province in 680
• Ise (Seishu) (Yi Shi Guo (Shi Zhou ))
• Shima (Shishu) (Zhi Mo Guo (Zhi Zhou )) - separated from Ise Province at the beginning of the 8th century
• Owari (Bishu) (Wei Zhang Guo (Wei Zhou ))
• Mikawa (Sanshu) (San He Guo (San Zhou ))
• Totomi (Enshu) (Yuan Jiang Guo (Yuan Zhou ))
• Suruga (Sunshu) (Jun He Guo (Jun Zhou ))
• Izu (Zushu) (Yi Dou Guo (Dou Zhou )) - separated from Suruga Province in 680
• Kai (Koshu) (Jia Fei Guo (Jia Zhou ))
• Sagami (Soshu) (Xiang Mo Guo (Xiang Zhou ))
• Musashi (Bushu) (Wu Zang Guo (Wu Zhou )) - Transferred from Tosando to Tokaido in 771
• Awa (Boshu, Anshu) (An Fang Guo (Fang Zhou , An Zhou )) - Divided from Kazusa Province in 718. Although re-joined to Kazusa Province in 741, separated from Kazusa Province again in 781
• Kazusa (Soshu) (Shang Zong Guo (Zong Zhou )) - divided from Fusa Province (Zong Guo ) in the 7th century
• Shimosa (Soshu) (Xia Zong Guo (Zong Zhou )) - divided from Fusa Province in the 7th century
• Hitachi (Joshu) (Chang Lu Guo (Chang Zhou ))

• Omi (Goshu) (Jin Jiang Guo (Jiang Zhou ))
• Mino (Noshu) (Mei Nong Guo (Nong Zhou ))
• Hida (Hishu) (Fei Tuo Guo (Fei Zhou ))
• Shinano (Shinshu) (Xin Nong Guo (Xin Zhou ))
  • from 721 to 731
    • Suwa (Zou Fang Guo )
    • Shinano (Xin Nong Guo )
• Kozuke (Joshu) (Shang Ye Guo (Shang Zhou )) - divided from Keno Province (Mao Ye Guo ) during the 4th century
• Shimotsuke (Yashu) (Xia Ye Guo (Ye Zhou )) - divided from Keno Province during the 4th century
• Dewa (Ushu) (Chu Yu Guo (Yu Zhou )) - 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 (Ushu) (Yu Qian Guo (Yu Zhou ))
    • Ugo (Ushu) (Yu Hou Guo (Yu Zhou ))
• Mutsu (Oshu, Rikushu) (Lu Ao Guo (Ao Zhou , Lu Zhou )) - split off from Hitachi Province in the 7th century
  • 718 for several years
    • Iwaki (Shi Cheng Guo )
    • Iwase (Shi Bei Guo )
    • Mutsu (Lu Ao Guo )
  • Since the 1868 breakup
    • Iwashiro (Ganshu) (Yan Dai Guo (Yan Zhou ))
    • Iwaki (Banshu) (Pan Cheng Guo (Pan Zhou ))
    • Rikuchu (Rikushu) (Lu Zhong Guo (Lu Zhou ))
    • Rikuzen (Rikushu) (Lu Qian Guo (Lu Zhou ))
    • Mutsu (Lu Ao Guo )

• Wakasa (Jakushu) (Ruo Xia Guo (Ruo Zhou ))
• Echizen (Esshu) (Yue Qian Guo (Yue Zhou )) - broke off from Koshi Province (Yue Guo ) during the end of the 7th century
• Kaga (Kashu) (Jia He Guo (Jia Zhou )) - divided from Echizen Province in 823
• Noto (Noshu) (Neng Deng Guo (Neng Zhou )) - divided from Echizen Province in 718. Although occupied by Etchu Province in 741, divided from Etchu Province in 757
• Etchu (Esshu) (Yue Zhong Guo (Yue Zhou )) - broke off from Koshi Province during the end of the 7th century
• Echigo (Esshu) (Yue Hou Guo (Yue Zhou )) - broke off from Koshi Province during the end of the 7th century
• Sado (Sashu, Toshu) (Zuo Du Guo (Zuo Zhou , Du Zhou )) - although occupied by Echigo in 743, divided from Echigo in 752

• Tanba (Tanshu) (Dan Bo Guo (Dan Zhou ))
• Tango (Tanshu) (Dan Hou Guo (Dan Zhou )) - divided from Tanba in 713
• Tajima (Tanshu) (Dan Ma Guo (Dan Zhou ))
• Inaba (Inshu) (Yin Fan Guo (Yin Zhou ))
• Hoki (Hakushu) (Bo Qi Guo (Bo Zhou ))
• Izumo (Unshu) (Chu Yun Guo (Yun Zhou ))
• Iwami (Sekishu) (Shi Jian Guo (Shi Zhou ))
• Oki (Onshu, Inshu) (Yin Qi Guo (Yin Zhou ))

• Harima (Banshu) (Bo Mo Guo (Bo Zhou ))
• Mimasaka (Sakushu) (Mei Zuo Guo (Zuo Zhou )) - divided from Bizen Province in 713
• Bizen (Bishu) (Bei Qian Guo (Bei Zhou )) - broke off from Kibi (Ji Bei Guo ) during the 2nd half of the 7th century
• Bitchu (Bishu) (Bei Zhong Guo (Bei Zhou )) - broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of the 7th century
• Bingo (Bishu) (Bei Hou Guo (Bei Zhou )) - broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of the 7th century
• Aki (Geishu) (An Yun Guo (Yun Zhou ))
• Suo (Boshu) (Zhou Fang Guo (Fang Zhou ))
• Nagato (Choshu) (Chang Men Guo (Chang Zhou ))

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

• Kii (Kishu) (Ji Yi Guo (Ji Zhou ))
• Awaji (Tanshu) (Dan Lu Guo (Dan Zhou ))
• Awa (Ashu) (A Bo Guo (A Zhou ))
• Sanuki (Sanshu) (Zan Qi Guo (Zan Zhou ))
• Iyo (Yoshu) (Yi Yu Guo (Yu Zhou ))
• Tosa (Doshu) (Tu Zuo Guo (Tu Zhou ))

Equivalent to Kyushu and its surroundings

• Buzen (Hoshu) (Li Qian Guo (Li Zhou )) - broke off from Toyo Province (Li Guo ) at the end of the 7th century
• Bungo (Hoshu) (Li Hou Guo (Li Zhou )) - broke off from Toyo Province at the end of the 7th century
• Chikuzen (Chikushu) (Zhu Qian Guo (Zhu Zhou )) - broke off from Tsukushi Province (Zhu Zi Guo ) until the end of the 7th century
• Chikugo (Chikushu) (Zhu Hou Guo (Zhu Zhou )) - broke off from Tsukushi Province until the end of the 7th century
• Hizen (Hishu) (Fei Qian Guo (Fei Zhou )) - broke off from Hi Province (Huo Guo ) until the end of the 7th century
• Higo (Hishu) (Fei Hou Guo (Fei Zhou )) - broke off from Hi Province until the end of the 7th century
• Hyuga (Nisshu, Koshu) (Ri Xiang Guo (Ri Zhou , Xiang Zhou )) - earlier called Kumaso Province (Xiong Ceng Guo )
• Osumi (Gushu) (Da Yu Guo (Yu Zhou )) - divided from Hyuga Province in 713
  • From 702 to 824
    • Osumi (Da Yu Guo )
    • Tane (Duo Yi Guo )
• Satsuma (Sasshu) (Sa Mo Guo (Sa Zhou )) - divided from Hyuga Province in 702
• Iki (Isshu) (Yi Qi Guo (Yi Zhou )) - officially Iki no Shima (Yi Qi Dao )
• Tsushima (Taishu) (Dui Ma Guo (Dui Zhou )) - officially Tsushima no Shima (Dui Ma Dao )

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

• Oshima (Du Dao Guo )
• Shiribeshi (Hou Zhi Guo )
• Iburi (Dan Zhen Guo )
• Ishikari (Shi Shou Guo )
• Teshio (Tian Yan Guo )
• Kitami (Bei Jian Guo )
• Hidaka (Ri Gao Guo )
• Tokachi (Shi Sheng Guo )
• Kushiro (Chuan Lu Guo )
• Nemuro (Gen Shi Guo )
• Chishima (Qian Dao Guo ) - After the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), Japan added north of Urup Island and placed Uruppu (De Fu Jun ), Shimushiru (Xin Zhi Jun ), and Shumushu (Zhan Shou Jun ) Districts.

• Code of Taiho
• Magiri
• Kokushi (officials)
• Demographics of Japan before Meiji Restoration
• Ritsuryo
• Han (administrative division)
• Samurai

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

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

• maproom.org
• samurai archives
• Gu Shi Ji niokeruJiu Guo Ming *Guo Jing (Lu Ling Zhi Yi Qian )
• Wu Ji Ba Dao

• Former provinces of Japan

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