historical territory; agata
Refers to a territorial unit in pre-Taika and Heian periods under the Yamato court or provincial governors. A historical term not used in modern administrative divisions.
In ancient times, agata referred to regions under the control of the Yamato court.
Archaic meaning for 'countryside' or 'rural area', no longer in common use. Modern Japanese uses 田舎 (いなか) instead.
In old texts, agata can mean the countryside.
territorial ruler (Yamato period)
Standard modern kanji form for this historical term.
Out-dated kanji form (kyūjitai) occasionally seen in historical texts.
The historical derivation is uncertain. The spelling 県 is conventionally associated with territorial divisions, but the reading あがた is native Japanese and its origin is unclear.