Itokoku - Itokoku

A country in the Yayoi period that is identified with the area around Itoshima-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Gishiwajinden states, "A chief commander was stationed in the area north of the Queen's Kingdom to supervise the various provinces. The provinces respected him. He was always governed by Ito Province." It occupied an important position in politics and diplomacy among the Yamatai provinces. There were over 1,000 households, with the chief commander called Niki, the deputies called Semoko and Hikoko, and a Taiho County envoy was always stationed there. The Migumo Royal Tomb in this area is estimated to date to the middle of the 1st century BC, and primitive royal tombs can be found at the Ihara and Hirabaru ruins. In addition, there are many dolmens of South Korean origin scattered around the area, and late Jomon Yuusu-style earthenware coffins and Korean-style ground stone tools have been found in the Shito dolmens, proving that the area had been in contact with Korea since the late Jomon period. The area was an ancient nation that flourished before the Yamatai Kingdom, and was active in fishing and trade along with the Nakoku.

[Inoue Mikio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福岡県糸島郡付近に比定される弥生(やよい)時代の国。『魏志倭人伝(ぎしわじんでん)』に「女王国より以北にはとくに一大率(いちだいそつ)を置き諸国を検察す。諸国之(これ)を畏憚(いたん)す。常に伊都国に治す」とあり、邪馬台(やまたい)諸国のなかで政治、外交上重要な地位を占めていた。戸数は1000余戸あり、長官を爾支(にき)、副官を泄謨觚(せもこ)、柄渠觚(ひここ)といい、帯方(たいほう)郡使が常駐。この地にある三雲(みぐも)王墓は前1世紀中ごろと推定されるほか、井原(いはら)、平原(ひらばる)遺跡などで原始王墓がみられる。また、南朝鮮系支石墓が多く散在し、志登(しと)支石墓群からは縄文晩期の夜臼(ゆうす)式甕棺(かめかん)、朝鮮系磨製石器などが採集され、縄文晩期ころより朝鮮との交渉が確認される。奴(な)国とともに漁業、交易に活躍し、邪馬台国以前から繁栄した古代国家である。

［井上幹夫］

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