Buzen Province
Buzen ( Japanese 豊 前 国 , Buzen no kuni ) was one of the historical provinces of Japan in the north of the island of Kyushu . It bordered the provinces of Bungo and Chikuzen . Today the area is the eastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture , including some northern districts of Ōita Prefecture .
history
The province emerged at the end of the 7th century from the division of the province of Toyo ( 豊 国 ) into the provinces of Buzen (dt. "Front Toyo") and Bungo (dt. "Hinter Toyo"). These were collectively referred to as Hōshū ( 豊 州 , "Toyo Province (s)"). Buzen's characters were also read as Toyo-kuni no michi no kuchi in the early days .
The ruins of the old provincial capital ( kokufu ) were found near the city of Toyotsu (today: Miyako ). The castle town of Kokura (today: Kitakyūshū ), a seat of numerous feudal rulers, was also in Buzen.
After the fief system was abolished during the Meiji Restoration in 1871, the province became Kokura Prefecture for four years until it was added to Fukuoka Prefecture in 1876.
Coordinates: 33 ° 41 ′ N , 130 ° 57 ′ E