肥前
Hizen Province
肥前国 · ひぜん
Province
Saikido Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Front Fertile"
True Etymology
Like Higo (behind), Hizen (肥前) means 'front Hi/Higo'—the coastal section of the ancient Higo territory. 'Hi' (肥) means 'fertile/fat/rich,' and the province's agricultural land was indeed fertile.
Alternative Theory
Hizen contained Nagasaki, Japan's sole authorized port for foreign trade during the Edo period's isolationist policy. The 'front fertile' province thus became Japan's window to the world—a role hardly suggested by its agricultural name.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Saikido |
|---|---|
| Reading | ひぜん |
| Active Period | Ancient-1868 |