List of provinces of Japan
Encyclopedia
The following were in effect from 7th century until the Meiji Period
. The list is based on the , which includes short-lived provinces. Provinces located within Hokkaidō
are listed last. To date, no official order has been issued abolishing the ancient provinces. Nonetheless, today they are considered obsolete. What follows is a list of the individual provinces along with some details.
The borders of the provinces changed until the end of the Nara Period
and during the Meiji Period
. From the Heian Period
until the Edo Period
, the borders remained unchanged.
For the demographic data of provinces during Edo period
, see Demographics of Japan before Meiji Restoration.
}
} - Created in 716 from Kawachi Province as . Although occupied by Kawachi Province in 740, in 757 the province divided again from Kawachi Province.
- Separated from Ise Province in 680. - Separated from Ise Province at the beginning of the 8th century. - Separated from Suruga Province in 680. - Transferred from Tōsandō to Tōkaidō in 771 - Divided from Kazusa Province in 718
. Although re-joined to Kazusa Province in 741, Separated from Kazusa Province again in 781. - Divided from in 7th century. - Divided from Fusa Province in 7th century.
}
} - Divided from during 4th century. - Divided from Keno Province during 4th century. - 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.
}
} - Split off from Hitachi Province in 7th century.
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
- Broke off from during the end of 7th century. - Divided from Echizen Province in 823
. - Divided from Echizen Province in 718
. Although occupied by Etchu Province in 741
, Divided from Etchu Province in 757
. - Broke off from Koshi Province during the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Koshi Province during the end of 7th century. - Although occupied by Echigo in 743
, Divided from Echigo in 752
.
- Divided from Bizen Provincein 713
. - Broke off from during the 2nd half of 7th century. - Broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of 7th century. - Broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of 7th century.
- Broke off from at the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Toyo Province at the end of 7th century. - Broke off from until the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Tsukushi Province until the end of 7th century. - Broke off from until the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Hi Province until the end of 7th century. - Renamed during 4th to 7th century. - Divided from Hyūga Province in 713
.
}
} - Divided from Hyūga Province in 702. - Officially . - Officially . - Independent until established by imperial decree in the Meiji Restoration. Incorporated into Kagoshima Prefecture in 1871, and the Ryūkyū-han was abolished in 1879. Okinawa prefecture was not established until 1972, when the United States returned the southern islands to Japan after World War II. At that time Ryūkyū province was reestablished.
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
. The list is based on the , which includes short-lived provinces. Provinces located within Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
are listed last. To date, no official order has been issued abolishing the ancient provinces. Nonetheless, today they are considered obsolete. What follows is a list of the individual provinces along with some details.
The borders of the provinces changed until the end of the Nara Period
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
and during the Meiji Period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
. From the Heian Period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
until the Edo Period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, the borders remained unchanged.
For the demographic data of provinces during Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, see Demographics of Japan before Meiji Restoration.
-
- circa 716716Year 716 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 716 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Inal Khan succeeds Kapagan Khan and Bilge...
-circa 738738Year 738 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 738 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- America :* The powerful Mayan city-state Xukpi is...
- circa 716
}
} - Created in 716 from Kawachi Province as . Although occupied by Kawachi Province in 740, in 757 the province divided again from Kawachi Province.
- Separated from Ise Province in 680. - Separated from Ise Province at the beginning of the 8th century. - Separated from Suruga Province in 680. - Transferred from Tōsandō to Tōkaidō in 771 - Divided from Kazusa Province in 718
718
Year 718 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 718 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Tervel's reign as monarch of Bulgaria...
. Although re-joined to Kazusa Province in 741, Separated from Kazusa Province again in 781. - Divided from in 7th century. - Divided from Fusa Province in 7th century.
-
- from 721721Year 721 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 721 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Former Byzantine emperor...
to 731731Year 731 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 731 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Battle of the Defile between the Umayyads and...
- from 721
}
} - Divided from during 4th century. - Divided from Keno Province during 4th century. - Broke Dewa District in Echigo Province and create Dewa Province in 712
712
Year 712 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 712 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Ansprand succeeds Aripert as king of the...
. On October of the same year, Mogami and Okitama Districts in Mutsu Province merged into Dewa Province.
-
- Since the 1868 breakup
}
} - Split off from Hitachi Province in 7th century.
-
- 718718Year 718 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 718 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Tervel's reign as monarch of Bulgaria...
for several years
- 718
}
}
}
-
- Since the 1868 breakup
}
}
}
}
}
- Broke off from during the end of 7th century. - Divided from Echizen Province in 823
823
Year 823 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :...
. - Divided from Echizen Province in 718
718
Year 718 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 718 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Tervel's reign as monarch of Bulgaria...
. Although occupied by Etchu Province in 741
741
Year 741 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 741 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Carloman, Pippin the Short and Grifo succeed...
, Divided from Etchu Province in 757
757
Year 757 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 757 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.-Africa:* Foundation of the city of Sijilmasa by the...
. - Broke off from Koshi Province during the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Koshi Province during the end of 7th century. - Although occupied by Echigo in 743
743
Year 743 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 743 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* After an interregnum of seven years,...
, Divided from Echigo in 752
752
Year 752 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 752 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Cuthred of Wessex leads a successful...
.
- Divided from Bizen Provincein 713
713
Year 713 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 713 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Byzantine Emperor Philippicus is...
. - Broke off from during the 2nd half of 7th century. - Broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of 7th century. - Broke off from Kibi Province during the 2nd half of 7th century.
- Broke off from at the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Toyo Province at the end of 7th century. - Broke off from until the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Tsukushi Province until the end of 7th century. - Broke off from until the end of 7th century. - Broke off from Hi Province until the end of 7th century. - Renamed during 4th to 7th century. - Divided from Hyūga Province in 713
713
Year 713 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 713 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Byzantine Emperor Philippicus is...
.
-
- From 702702Year 702 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 702 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Franconian Duke Hetan II completes the...
to 824824Year 824 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Third Battle of Roncevaux Pass: The Basques and Banu Qasi defeat counts Eblo and Aznar, Frankish vassals....
- From 702
}
} - Divided from Hyūga Province in 702. - Officially . - Officially . - Independent until established by imperial decree in the Meiji Restoration. Incorporated into Kagoshima Prefecture in 1871, and the Ryūkyū-han was abolished in 1879. Okinawa prefecture was not established until 1972, when the United States returned the southern islands to Japan after World War II. At that time Ryūkyū province was reestablished.
- Renamed Ezo RegionEzois a Japanese name which historically referred to the lands to the north of Japan. It was used in various senses, sometimes meaning the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō, and sometimes meaning lands and waters further north in the Sea of Okhotsk, like Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands...
to HokkaidōHokkaido, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, and created 11 provincesFormer Provinces of HokkaidoIn 1869, the island of Hokkaidō, Japan was divided into 11 provinces and 86 districts. The majority of Japan's former provinces were converted into prefectures by the Meiji government between 1870 and 1876....
. (1869-1882) - After the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875), Japan added north of UrupUrupUrup is an uninhabited volcanic island near in the south of the Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okhotsk in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Its name is derived from the Ainu language word for salmon trout.-Geography and climate:...
Island and placed , , and Districts.
Related links
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