Chūgoku region

The , also known as the ,  is one of Japan's traditional regions.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Geography" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 242;  "Chūgoku", p. 127. The Japanese conventions of geography and history divide the nation into eight regions, including the Chūgoku region.Library of Congress Country Studies, Japan (LOC), "Geographic Regions"; "The islands of Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu each form a region, and the main island of Honshu is divided into five regions"; retrieved 2012-4-15.  These have been used since 1905 as basic units for description and comparisonTames, Richard. (2008). A traveller's history of Japan, p. 264. and as cultural markers.

The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs".Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), "Regions of Japan"; retrieved 2012-4-15.  The significance of the region in Japan is geographical, cultural and administrative.Brandt, Kim. Kingdom of Beauty: Mingei and the Politics of Folk Art in Imperial Japan, pp. 218-219;Shapira, Philip et al. (1994). Planning For Cities And Regions In Japan, p. 193, citing Research Institute of Construction and Economy. (1991). "Fig. 2-7. "Regional Vitalization and Construction Administration," White Paper on Construction; retrieved 2012-8-28.

History
In the late 7th century, the San'indō and San'yōdō were identified as two of the eight largest administrative areas of the Imperial system (ritsuryo seido).

Gokishichidō is an ancient system of names for parts of the country, including San'indō and San'yōdō.Nussbaum, "Goki-shichidō" at p. 255.  Chūgoku covers a western part of the island of HonshūLOC, "Chugoku"; retrieved 2012-4-15. in roughly the same area as the traditional San'indō and San'yōdō.

In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree.  Japan was divided into regions (chihō ), including the Chūgoku region. A regional council  (chihō gyōsei kyōgisai) was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping.  The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries.Steiner, Kurt. (1965).  Local Government in Japan, p. 62.

Table: Chūgoku

 Province Province capital  50pxPre-modern regions Prefecture Prefecture capital 50pxRegions today Notes Aki San'yōdō Hiroshima HiroshimaChūgoku  Bingo FuchuSan'yōdō Hiroshima HiroshimaChūgoku created from Kibi in late-7th century  Bitchū SojaSan'yōdō Okayama OkayamaChūgoku created from Kibi in late-7th century  Bizen near OkayamaSan'yōdō Okayama OkayamaChūgoku created from Kibi in late-7th century  Harima HimejiSan'yōdō Hyōgo KobeChūgoku  HōkiTitsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 65 n3; Nussbaum, "San'in" at p. 817. near KurayoshiSan'indō Tottori TottoriChūgoku  Inaba TottoriSan'indō Tottori TottoriChūgoku  Iwami HamadaSan'indō Shimane ShimaneChūgoku  Izumo MatsueSan'indō Shimane MatsueChūgoku  Mimasaka, TsuyamaSan'yōdō Okayama OkayamaChūgoku created in 713 from Bizen Nagato ShimonosekiSan'yōdō Yamaguchi YamaguchiChūgoku  Oki SaigōSan'indō Shimane ShimaneChūgoku  Suō HofuSan'yōdō Yamaguchi YamaguchiChūgoku Tajima HidakaSan'indō Hyōgo KobeChūgoku Tamba, KameokaSan'indō Hyōgo; Kyoto KobeChūgoku created from Ni in 713 Tango, Maizuru; MiyazuSan'indō Kyoto KyotoChūgoku created from Ni in 713

Over time, Chūgoku has developed its own regional dialects, customs and unique traditional culture.Web-Japan.org, "Regions of Japan"; retrieved 2012-4-15.

Related pages
KinaiTōkaidōTōsandōHokurikudōSan'indōSan'yōdōNankaidōSaikaidō
 Provinces of Japan
 Prefectures of Japan
 List of regions of Japan
 List of islands of Japan

 References 

Other websites 

  Murdoch's map of provinces, 1903

Category:Chūgoku region