陸奥
Mutsu Province
陸奥国 · むつ
Province
Tosando Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Deep Interior Land"
True Etymology
The name means 'land' (陸) and 'interior/deep' (奥), literally 'deep inland territory.' It was the largest province in Japan, covering the entire Tōhoku region east of the mountains. 'Mutsu' designated the furthest reaches of Yamato civilization—the deep interior beyond the frontier.
Alternative Theory
The name originally applied to the entire northeast, but the province was eventually divided into Mutsu, Rikuchū, Rikuzen, Iwashiro, and Iwaki as settlement expanded. The original 'deep interior' name reflected its frontier character in the ancient period, when much of the north remained outside central government control.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Tosando |
|---|---|
| Reading | むつ |
| Active Period | Ancient-868 |