Iwase Province (石背国, Iwase no Kuni) is an old province of Japan which existed for a brief period of time in the Nara period in what is now western Fukushima Prefecture.[1]

Map of the former Japanese provinces with Iwase highlighted

History edit

Iwase Province was created during the reign of Empress Genshō.[2] The Yōrō Ritsuryo established the Iwase Province in 718 through the division of the Michinoku Province (Mutsu Province). It was composed of five districts, named Shirakawa (白河), Iwase (石背), Aizu (会津), Asaka (安積) and Shinobu (信夫).

The area encompassed by the province reverted to Mutsu at some point between 722 and 724. Some scholars have suggested that this may have been motivated by economic considerations.[2]

Historical districts edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Kodama. (1958). 図日本文化史大系, p. 30; excerpt, 石背国 718-724?
  2. ^ a b Meyners d'Estrey, Guillaume Henry Jean (1884). Annales de l'Extrême Orient et de l'Afrique, Vol. 6, p. 172, p. 172, at Google Books; excerpt, Genshō crée sept provinces : Idzumi, Noto, Atoa, Iwaki, Iwase, Suwa et Sado en empiétant sur celles de Kawachi, Echizen, Etchū, Kazusa, Mutsu and Shinano

References edit

  • Kodama. (1958). 図日本文化史大系 (Zusetsu Nihon bunkashi taikei). Tokyo: Shōgakkan. OCLC 16308019

Other websites edit

  Media related to Iwase Province at Wikimedia Commons