also: こおりのつかさ
noun
district governor (ritsuryō system)
Historical official title under the ritsuryō legal system; refers to the governor of a kōri (district).
郡司は律令制のもとで郡を治める役人だった。
The gunji was an official who governed a district under the ritsuryō system.
Explanatory kanji spelling that breaks down the title; rarely used in modern texts.
国司 was a provincial governor, a higher rank than 郡司, who governed a province (kuni) rather than a district (kōri).
From 郡 (kōri, 'district') + 司 (tsukasa, 'official'). The reading ぐんじ is a Sino-Japanese compound; こおりのつかさ is the native Japanese reading.