愛媛
Ehime
愛媛 · えひめ
Prefecture
Shikoku
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Beloved Princess"
True Etymology
The name derives directly from Japanese mythology. In the Kojiki (712 CE), the land deity of Shikoku's western region is called 'Ehime' (愛比売, Beloved Princess). The Meiji government assigned this mythological name to the prefecture when the ancient provincial system was reorganized in 1871.
Alternative Theory
The original mythological form 'Ehime' (愛比売) uses different characters than the modern prefecture name (愛媛). The character 媛 (noblewoman/princess) was chosen for the prefecture name as a simplified but thematically equivalent substitute for 比売 (princess).
Key Facts
| Capital | Matsuyama |
|---|---|
| Region | Shikoku |
| Reading | えひめ |
| Pre-Meiji Domains | Matsuyama Domain, Uwajima Domain, Imabari Domain |
| Domain Lords | Matsudaira clan (松平氏), Date clan (伊達氏) |
| Established | 1871-present |