Kōzuke Province, Historical province in Honshu, Japan
Kōzuke is a former administrative unit on the main island of Honshu, corresponding to present-day Gunma Prefecture. The territory bordered several neighboring provinces and stretched across wide expanses between the mountains and plains of the region.
From 811 during the Heian period, the province received a special rank as an Imperial Prince was appointed as formal ruler. This privilege was shared with only two other provinces in Japan at that time.
The province contained numerous post stations along the Nakasendō and Mikuni Kaidō highways, serving as key transportation routes through medieval Japan.
The area developed into a major center for horse breeding and later formed the foundation for regional silkworm cultivation. These economic activities shaped rural life over several centuries.
The Engishiki classification system listed the province simultaneously as one of 13 great countries and as one of 30 far countries. This dual rating accounted for both its importance and its distance from the capital Kyoto.
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