Local chief was a kind of title which was given to powerful clans in various places who were subject to the emperor's authority; it was a form of provincial government in ancient times under the Yamato political system.
国造とは、王権に服属した各地の有力豪族に与えられた一種の称号で、ヤマト政権の日本古代の地方官制的な性格を持つものである。