Kuni no miyatsuko

, also read as kokuzō or kunitsuko, were people in ancient Japan during the Yamato period who governed provinces called kuni.

Kuni no miyatsuko governed provinces called kuni (国). At first Kuni no miyatsuko were appointed by the Emperor, but later the position was passed down from father to son. Kuni no miyatsuko had noble titles, usually kimi (君) or atae (直). But the important ones had the title omi (臣).

The position was abolished in the Taika refoms and replaced with the position of Kokushi."Kuni no miyatsuko". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-12. The old kuni no miyatsuko were given the position of  instead."国造 (Kuni no miyatsuko)". Dijitaru daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-12. 

Gunji was a religious position responsible for Shinto in each province. These religious officials became known as , or "new" kuni no miyatsuko. The Gunji often supported the rights of peasants, so the position was abolished by the Emperor. A few kuni no miyatsuko families stayed powerful such as the  of Izumo Province in present-day eastern Shimane Prefecture.

 References 

Category:History of Japan
Category:Japanese nobility