Ajijitou (local head of a clan)

…In the early 16th century, under King Sho Shin, the anji, who were based in various regions, were forced to live together in the royal capital of Shuri. From then on, they were appointed mainly by the royal family as the highest social rank, and were guaranteed ownership of administrative districts called magiri. Their nature did not change fundamentally even in the early modern period, but they were also called anjijito and, together with the sojito, were known as the two sojito, and were central to the Ryukyu Kingdom. Their residences were commonly called udun. …

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "Anji Jito" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…16世紀初期，尚真王のときに各地に割拠していた按司は王都首里に集居させられ，以後，社会的身分の最高位をあらわす位階としておもに王族から任命され，間切（まぎり）と称される行政区域の領有を保障された。近世になってもその性格は基本的に変わらなかったが，按司地頭とも称され総地頭とともに両総地頭の名で呼ばれる琉球王国の中枢的存在であった。その屋敷を俗に御殿（うどうん）という。…

※「按司地頭」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報