長門
Nagato Province
長門国 · ながと
Province
Sanyodo Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Long Gate"
True Etymology
The characters mean 'long' (長) and 'gate/entrance' (門). The name describes the province's position as the long gateway between the main island of Honshu and Kyushu, controlling the Kanmon Straits. The narrow waterway between Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu was the critical 'long gate' of western Japan.
Alternative Theory
The Kanmon Straits, at Nagato's tip, were the site of the decisive Battle of Dan-no-ura (1185), where the Taira clan was destroyed by the Minamoto, ending the Genpei War. The 'long gate' thus became the threshold between the old and new orders of Japan.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Sanyodo |
|---|---|
| Reading | ながと |
| Active Period | Ancient-1868 |