Tajima Province

Tajima Province (但馬国, Tajima no Kuni) was an old province of Japan in the area that is today northern Hyōgo Prefecture.[1] It was sometimes called Tanshū (但州). Tajima bordered on Harima, Inaba, Tanba, and Tango provinces.

Map of Japanese provinces (1868) with Tajima Province highlighted

Tajima is the birthplace of Kobe beef, known locally as Tajima beef. Also well known are its many onsens, beaches, and small ski resorts. Its main industries are forestry, fishing, farming, and tourism.

History

Two theories are given as to where the initial ancient provincial capital was; one is the remains of Hazaka in the former Izushi District (currently Toyooka), and the other is somewhere in the former Keta District (currently Toyooka). In 804, the capital was moved to Takada in the former Keta District.[2]

A major castle town was built at Izushi. Awaga Shrine and Izushi jinja were designated as the chief Shinto Shrine (ichinomiya) for the former Tajima Province.[3]

For much of the Sengoku period, this area was ruled by the Yamana clan, who submitted to Oda Nobunaga. Tadashima Akiyama, a samurai, hailed from the province and dueled Miyamoto Musashi there. He was defeated by Musashi.

Historical districts
  • Hyōgo Prefecture
    • Asago District (朝来郡) - dissolved
    • Futakata District (二方郡) - merged with Shitsumi District to become Mikata District (美方郡) on April 1, 1896
    • Izushi District (出石郡) - dissolved
    • Keta District (気多郡) - merged into Kinosaki District (along with Mikumi District) on April 1, 1896
    • Kinosaki District (城崎郡) - absorbed Keta and Mikumi Districts on April 1, 1896; now dissolved
    • Mikumi District (美含郡) - merged into Kinosaki District (along with Keta District) on April 1, 1896
    • Shitsumi District (七美郡) - merged with Futakata District to become Mikata District on April 1, 1896
    • Yabu District (養父郡) - dissolved

References
  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tajima" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 930, p. 930, at Google Books.
  2. 但馬国府はどこに? 日高町でシンポ [Where was the Provincial Capital?]. Kobe Shimbun (in Japanese). August 13, 2002. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  3. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya", p. 2.; retrieved 2011-08-10

Further reading

Media related to Tajima Province at Wikimedia Commons


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