Yamato Province


Yamato Province was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called Washū. Yamato consists of two characters, 大 "great", and 和 "Wa". At first, the name was written with one different character, but due to its offensive connotation, for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in the second year of the Tenpyō-hōji era. It is classified as a great province in the Engishiki.
The Yamato Period in the history of Japan refers to the late Kofun Period and Asuka Period. Japanese archaeologists and historians emphasize the fact that during the early Kofun Period the Yamato chieftainship was in close contention with other regional powers, such as Kibi Province near present-day Okayama Prefecture. Around the 6th century, the local chieftainship gained national control and established the Imperial court in Yamato Province.
The battleship Yamato, the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet during World War II, was named after this ancient province.

Capital

The provincial capital was Wakigami in Katsujō District, but accompanying the Heijō-kyō capital transfer, it was moved to Takaichi District. The exact location of the capital is guessed at by various sources, but not known for sure. There was no shugo's mansion; the Kōfuku-ji played that role.
In the Setsuyōshū, Toichi District is listed as the seat.

Temples

The provincial temple for monks is popularly thought to have been Tōdai-ji, but it may have in fact been a different one in Kashihara. The one for nuns was Hokke-ji.
The primary shrine was Sakurai's Ōmiwa Shrine, but there have been no records stating as such found at the shrine itself. There were no secondary shrines. The sōja was Kokufu Shrine.

''Kami">Kokushi (official)">Kami'' of Yamato

Domains">Han (administrative division)">Domains