Shimotsuke Province, Historical province in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Shimotsuke covered the territory of modern Tochigi Prefecture and shared borders with Kōzuke, Hitachi, Mutsu and Shimōsa provinces. The territory sat at the crossing of major trade routes connecting the eastern and northern regions of the country.
The territory formed in 713 during the Nara period when the Keno region was divided along the Kinugawa River into Kamitsukeno and Shimotsukeno. This reorganization followed administrative reforms that established the provincial system across Japan.
The Shimotsuke Yakushi-ji temple complex in Tochigi city displays religious building styles from the Nara period that shaped the region. The temple grounds are among the few remaining examples of Buddhist architecture in this part of the country.
The former provincial territory included ten administrative districts that now form part of Tochigi Prefecture. Travelers can find traces of the historical boundaries and structures in Tochigi city and other locations across the region.
Under the Engishiki classification system, the territory ranked among the 13 great countries and the 30 far countries from the capital. This status reflected both its size and its considerable distance from the imperial centers.
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