武蔵
Musashi Province
武蔵国 · むさし
Province
Tokaido Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Warrior's Hidden Place"
True Etymology
The characters combine 'warrior/military' (武) and 'hidden/concealed' (蔵), but these are phonetic. 'Musashi' appears in ancient records as 'Musasi' and may derive from a pre-Yamato word. Some scholars connect it to an Ainu-like word for 'low plain,' describing the Kantō Plain.
Alternative Theory
Musashi was the largest and most populous province in eastern Japan, encompassing the future sites of both Edo (Tokyo) and Kamakura. The name 'Musashi' thus became synonymous with eastern Japan's heartland, and Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's most famous swordsman, took his name from this province.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Tokaido |
|---|---|
| Reading | むさし |
| Active Period | Ancient-1868 |