Shugo (original) (raw)

Shugo (守護) is an official post named by the Shogun, which oversees a province (kuni) in Japan.

The post was initially created by Minamoto no Yoritomo, in need to capture Yoshitsune but the actual motivation is to roll out the rule of the Shogunate government throughout Japan. It is actually intended to replace a job of Kokushi, which is appointed by the Imperial Court in Kyoto. In official manner, Gokenin in each kuni is supposed to belong to Shugo, but in practice, the relationship between them is fragile.