Name of the head of a road

A representative local governor of the early Nara period. With the surname Kimi, he learned ritsuryo from a young age and was a capable official well versed in official duties. In April 711 (Wado 4), he was ranked at the bottom of the aristocratic bureaucracy, and in September of the following year, he was appointed as an envoy to Silla, returning to Japan in August 713. In the same month, he became Chikugo no Kami and also held the position of Higo no Kami, but he was a typical good official in the early Ritsuryo system and died in April 718 (Yoro 2) as Chikugo no Kami with the rank of Shogoi no Kami (Senior Fifth Rank). The farmers who were dissatisfied with his strict legalistic approach were soon impressed by his achievements in promoting agriculture, and after his death, they enshrined him.

[Tadao Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良初期を代表する地方長官。君(きみ)姓をもち、若くから律令(りつりょう)を身につけ、吏務に通暁した能吏であったが、711年（和銅4）4月に貴族官僚の末席に列し、翌年9月に遣新羅(しらぎ)使に任ぜられ、713年8月に帰国した。同月筑後守(ちくごのかみ)となり、肥後守を兼ねたが、律令制初期の典型的な良吏であり、718年（養老2）4月、正五位下筑後守で没した。彼の厳しい法令主義に不満を抱いた農民たちも、やがてその農業振興の成果に感服し、没後に彼を祀(まつ)ったという。

［野村忠夫］

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