<研究ノート>平安前期東北史研究の再検討 : 「鎮守府・秋田城体制」説批判

Abstract

In order to comprehend the nature of warrior society, and the movement of people and goods in Northern Japan, one must understand the nature of the Chinjufu headquarters of far north, and the Akita castle. From the 1950s through the 1970s, it had become standard to describe Northern Japan as the 'Independent State of Ou (Mutsu and Dewa provinces).' Nevertheless, from the 1980s until the present, the situation in Northern Japan has been characterized as the Chinjufu-Akita castle system', whereby northern Ou was administered by the Chinjufu and Akita castle. In other words, the Chinjufu and Akita castle were the equivalent of a provincial government (kokufu), which in fact administered southern Ou. Much of his latter interpretation stems from the notion that six autonomous discricts existed in Northern Japan throughout the tenth century. An examination of the sources reveals, however, that the northernmost four of these six discricts no longer existed at this time. Even though several noted scholars of ancient Japan emphasize the existence of these four counties, they can be verified through reliable historical records. Instead, they were abolished sometime prior to the tenth century. This article thus reveals that the autonomous four northernmost districts of Mutsu did not exist. Hence the notion that they were governed by the Chinjufu (and indeed the very Chinjufu Akita castle system) becomes untenable.