Chikuzen Province

Map of Japanese provinces (1868) with Chikuzen Province highlighted

Chikuzen Province (筑前国, Chikuzen no kuni) was an old province of Japan in the area that is today part of Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyūshū.^[1] It was sometimes called Chikushū (筑州) or (筑陽), with Chikugo Province. Chikuzen bordered Buzen, Bungo, Chikugo, and Hizen Provinces.

History[]

The original provincial capital is believed to be near Dazaifu, although Fukuoka city has become dominant in modern times.

At the end of the 13th century, Chikuzen was the landing point for a Mongol invasion force. But the main force was destroyed by a typhoon (later called kamikaze).

In April 1336, Kikuchi Taketoshi attacked the Shoni clan stronghold at Dazaifu. At the time, the Shoni were allied with Ashikaga Takauji in his battles against Go-Daigo. The Shoni were defeated, which led to the suicide of several clan members, including their leader Shoni Sadatsune.^[2]

In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. Maps of Japan and Chikuzen Province were reformed in the 1870s.^[3] At the same time, the province continued to exist for some purposes. For example, Chikuzen is explicitly recognized in treaties in 1894 (a) between Japan and the United States and (b) between Japan and the United Kingdom.^[4]

Shrines and temples[]

Sumiyoshi jinja

Sumiyoshi-jinja and (Hakozaki Shrine?) were the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) of Chikuzen.^[5]

Historical districts[]

Fukuoka Prefecture
- (下座郡) - merged with Johza and Yasu Districts to become Asakura District (朝倉郡) on February 26, 1896
- (穂波郡) - merged with Kama District to become Kaho District (嘉穂郡) on February 26, 1896
- (怡土郡) - merged with Shima District to become Itoshima District (糸島郡) on February 26, 1896
- (上座郡) - merged with Geza and Yasu Districts to become Asakura District on February 26, 1896
- (嘉麻郡) - merged with Honami District to become Kaho District on February 26, 1896
- Kasuya District (糟屋郡)
- Kurate District (鞍手郡)
- (御笠郡) - merged with Mushiroda and Naka Districts to become Chikushi District (筑紫郡) on February 26, 1896
- Munakata District (宗像郡) - dissolved
- (席田郡) - merged with Mikasa and Naka Districts to become Chikushi District on February 26, 1896
- (那珂郡) - merged with Mikasa and Mushiroda Districts to become Chikushi District on February 26, 1896
- Onga District (遠賀郡)
- Sawara District (早良郡) - dissolved
- (志摩郡) - merged with Ito District to become Itoshima District on February 26, 1896
- (夜須郡) - merged with Geza and Johza Districts to become Asakura District on February 26, 1896

Notes[]

^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Chikuzen" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 114, p. 114, at Google Books.
^ Sansom, George (1961). A History of Japan, 1334-1615. Stanford University Press. p. 45. ISBN 0804705259.
^ Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
^ US Department of State. (1906). A digest of international law as embodied in diplomatic discussions, treaties and other international agreements (John Bassett Moore, ed.), Vol. 5, p. 759.
^ "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived May 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-1-18.

References[]

Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
Papinot, Edmond. (1910). Historical and Geographic Dictionary of Japan. Tokyo: Librarie Sansaisha. OCLC 77691250

External links[]

Media related to Chikuzen Province at Wikimedia Commons

Murdoch's map of provinces, 1903

[1] Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Chikuzen" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 114, p. 114, at Google Books.

[Sansom2-2] Sansom, George (1961). A History of Japan, 1334-1615. Stanford University Press. p. 45. ISBN 0804705259.

[3] Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.

[4] US Department of State. (1906). A digest of international law as embodied in diplomatic discussions, treaties and other international agreements (John Bassett Moore, ed.), Vol. 5, p. 759.

[5] "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived May 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-1-18.

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hide v t 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'."