In Japanese ancient times, before the era of Ryosei province establishment, there was the stage in which the province ruled by kuninomiyatsuko or powerful regional clans and the agata (territory) ruled by agatanushi or local influential persons were compatible.
日本の古代には、令制国が成立する前に、土着の豪族である国造（くにのみやつこ）が治める国と、県主（あがたぬし）が治める県（あがた）が並立した段階があった。