Moji Pass

Japanese: 門司関 - もじのせき

A barrier that was established in Kiku District, Buzen Province (present-day Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture) from ancient times to the Middle Ages. It faces Akama Barrier (present-day Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) across the Kanmon Strait. From the 8th century onwards, when ships travelled from the jurisdiction of Dazaifu to Kinai via the Seto Inland Sea, they had to undergo inspections of their passports (transit permits). Private ships paid a toll. The barrier was managed by Buzen Province, and a barrier officer and a barrier betto were appointed. It is said that in the Heian period, Moji Barrier Land was established to maintain the barrier. During the Genpei War, it became a base for the Taira clan. During the Kamakura period, it was under the control of the shogunate, and in the early 14th century, it was managed by the Shimousa clan, vassals of the Hojo clan. Even after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate, the Shimousa clan continued to control the barrier, and Moji became their surname. During the latter part of the Northern and Southern Court period, the clan became vassals of the Ouchi clan, and after the clan's demise, they became vassals of the Mori clan and opposed the advance of the Otomo clan.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

古代から中世にかけて豊前国企救(きく)郡（現福岡県北九州市門司区）に置かれた関。関門(かんもん)海峡を隔て赤間(あかま)関（現山口県下関市）と向き合う。８世紀以降，大宰府(だざいふ)管内から海路瀬戸内を経て畿内に向かう際，過書（通行許可証）の勘検(かんけん)を行った。私船は勘過料（通行税）を支払った。関の管理は豊前国があたり，関司・関別当が置かれた。平安時代には関の維持のため門司関領田が設けられたという。源平争乱では平氏の拠点となった。鎌倉時代は幕府の支配下にあり，14世紀初頭には北条氏被官下総(しもうさ)氏が管理した。鎌倉幕府滅亡後も下総氏は関を掌握し，門司を名字とするようになった。南北朝後期，同氏は大内氏の被官となり，同氏滅亡後は毛利氏被官として大友氏の進出に対抗した。

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