肥後
Higo Province
肥後国 · ひご
Province
Saikido Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Behind Fertile"
True Etymology
Higo (肥後) means 'behind Hi'—the interior fertile territory of Kyushu. The Kumamoto plain, watered by the Shirakawa River, was among Kyushu's most agriculturally productive areas, justifying the 'fertile' designation.
Alternative Theory
Higo was the home province of Miyamoto Musashi in his later years—he wrote 'The Book of Five Rings' (五輪書) in a cave in Higo (Reigan Cave, Kumamoto) shortly before his death in 1645. The 'behind fertile' province thus became the literary home of Japan's greatest swordsman.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Saikido |
|---|---|
| Reading | ひご |
| Active Period | Ancient-1868 |