Gunga (Japan)

Gunga (郡衙) was the central government office of a county under the Ritsuryo system of ancient Japan. It was responsible for local control and administration, and was placed under the national government.[1] Small administrative units analogous to counties were called gun (郡).[2] The official in charge of a Gunga was known as a gunji, and the county was typically controlled by 2 to 8 appointed county governors. These governors were appointed by powerful local clans and were responsible for tasks such as tax collection.[3] The Niihari Gunga ruins are notable ruins of a Gunga.[1] Shida Gunga ruins is another such example.[4]

The Ritsuryo system was enforced in the 640s, and in 703, the Taiho Code was established which changed the council system to a county system. Remains of Gunga offices have been discovered in various locations, including Niihari County in Hitachi Province, Nasu County in Shimotsuke Province, and Tamana County in Higo Province.[3]

The Gunga also had a kitchen to prepare food for the officials and visitors. The term Gunga is also known as Gunke or Kokuga. It is similar to a modern-day city hall and was responsible for controlling the county during the Ritsuryo era.[3]