After Hanseki Hokan (return of the lands and people to the Emperor) in 1869, the tripartite local administration system was established, making han domains become also administrative divisions of the national government, and former feudal lords (daimyo) were assigned to prefectural governors.
1869年版籍奉還によって三治制が確立して藩も国の行政区画となり、旧藩主（大名）は知藩事に任命された。