Since the period of the Northern and Southern Courts, in the Ou region, there was a unique system called 'Bungun' (Independent county) in which the powerful Kokujin (local lords) were given the right of military command and of Kendan in each county, which meant the great influence of the powerful Kokujin.
奥羽は南北朝期から、郡ごとに有力国人に軍事指揮権や権断権など強い権限を与えた「分郡」とも呼ばれる独自の制度があり、非常に有力国人の力が強かった。