The farmers who were skilled at using bows and at riding a horse were gunji, rich and powerful persons, or fushu, descendants of the emishi (people who resided in the northern areas in ancient times) who swore allegiance to the central government and were forced to move to various places throughout the country.
弓馬に通じた百姓とはすなわち、郡司・富豪層であり、帰順して全国各地に移住させられた蝦夷の後裔たる俘囚であった。