Editing Kōchi Prefecture (section)

== History ==
{{See also|List of historic sites of Japan (Kōchi)}}

=== Antiquity ===

==== Before the Ritsuryō System ====
In the [[Kujiki]], first recorded governments in Kōchi Prefecture were Hata (in the west) and Tosa (in the center). Hata was established first, so it is thought that it had more influence and contact with the [[Yamato Kingship|Yamato]] court. Written records from this time period are sparse, however it is believed that the first governors of Hata and Tosa were from the [[Kamo clan]] based in modern Osaka.

==== After the Ritsuryō System ====
In the [[Nihon Shoki]], the first report from an [[Kokushi (official)|official]] in the Kōchi region described the damages caused by the [[684 Hakuhō earthquake]]. From this report, it can be inferred that by 684 at the latest, the [[Tosa Province]] (a predecessor to modern-day Kōchi Prefecture) had been established. The first report from a named official was written by Hiketa no Mushiro in 743.

Up until the [[Genpei War]], 106 governors were appointed to govern the Tosa Province. Eventually, like many other provinces Tosa also was appointed absentee governors, given additional rights, and began amassing wealth. Due to being located far from the capital, many prisoners were exiled to the Tosa Province.

=== Middle ages ===

==== Kamakura period ====
The [[Kamakura shogunate|Kamakura Shogunate]] was established at the end of the 12th century. Since Tosa Province was allied to the winning Minamoto Clan in the Genpei War, it quickly fell under the influence of the shogunate. Kajiwara Tomokage was appointed as the first military governor of the Tosa Province. Eventually, the [[Hōjō clan| Hōjō]] Clan began serving as the military governor for the province.

==== Muromachi period ====
After the fall of the Kamakura Shoguante, [[Ashikaga Takauji]] was defeated in battle and forced to retreat to Kyushu. Shikoku Island later fell under the control of the [[Hosokawa clan|Hosokawa Clan]]. 

Kōchi Prefecture was historically known as [[Tosa Province]] and was controlled by the [[Chōsokabe clan]] in the [[Sengoku period]] and the [[Yamauchi clan]] during the [[Edo period]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>

Kōchi city is also the birthplace of noted revolutionary [[Sakamoto Ryōma]], who became one of the main instigators of the [[Meiji Restoration]].