noun
pre-ritsuryō regional administrator
Archaic historical term referring to an official appointed in key provinces before the ritsuryō system, responsible for overseeing his home province and surrounding areas. Not used in modern Japanese.
律令制以前、総領は地方行政の要として重要な役割を果たした。
Before the ritsuryō system, the 総領 played an important role as a key figure in regional administration.