The Saikaidō (西海道, "western sea circuit" or "western sea region") is a Japanese geographical term.[1] It means both an ancient division of the country and the main road running through it.[2] Saikaido was one of the main circuits of the Gokishichidō system, which was originally established during the Asuka period.
This name identified the geographic region of Kyūshū and the islands of Tsushima and Iki. It consisted of nine ancient provinces and two islands.[3] The provinces included Chikuzen, Chikugo, Buzen, Bungo, Hizen, Higo, Hyūga, Satsuma and Ōsumi.
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References
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128