However, the notion itself included not only the regions which was directly ruled by Ritsuryo kokka but also the regions of different ethnic groups, such as Ezo, which was not directly ruled by Ritsuryo kokka.
しかし、決して律令国家の直接支配の及んだ地域という意味ではなく、蝦夷など直接支配に含まれない異民族も内包していた。