Kanto region

These were the fiefs of the Kamakura Shogunate. Along with the Kanto Imperial Territory, they became the main financial base of the Shogunate. In 1184 (Genryaku 1), Mikawa, Suruga, and Musashi were added, and in August 1185 (Bunji 1), Izu, Sagami, Kazusa, Shinano, Echigo, and Iyo were added, and in December of the same year, Shimousa and Bungo were added. However, the following year, Mikawa and Iyo were removed, leaving only nine provinces, and after that, the number fluctuated and decreased, to just a few provinces such as Sagami and Musashi. The Genji clan and powerful vassals were appointed as provincial governors. Originally, provincial governors were appointed from the central aristocracy, so the replacement of these with samurai as provincial governors shook the authority of the Imperial Court. Fearing a repeat of the Taira clan's monopoly on many fiefdoms, which drew backlash from the Imperial Court and aristocrats, the shogunate limited itself to its most important bases.

[Shigehiro Kawashima]

"Kamakura Shogunate" by Kyohei Oyama ("Japanese History 9", 1974, Shogakukan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉将軍家の知行(ちぎょう)国。関東御領(かんとうごりょう)とともに幕府の主要な財政的基盤となった。1184年（元暦1）に三河(みかわ)・駿河(するが)・武蔵(むさし)、85年（文治1）8月には伊豆(いず)・相模(さがみ)・上総(かずさ)・信濃(しなの)・越後(えちご)・伊予(いよ)、同年12月に下総(しもうさ)・豊後(ぶんご)が次々と加えられた。しかし翌年には三河・伊予を除いた9か国となり、以後、変動・減少し、相模・武蔵などの数か国にすぎなくなった。国守には、源氏一族、有力御家人(ごけにん)が任命された。元来、国守には中央貴族が任命されていたから、これにかわって武家が国守となることは朝廷の権威を揺るがすものとなる。平氏が多くの知行国を独占して朝廷・貴族らの反発を買った二の舞を恐れ、幕府は重要な拠点に限ったのである。

［川島茂裕］

『大山喬平著『鎌倉幕府』（『日本の歴史9』1974・小学館）』

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