Yamashiro Province

[1] Aliases include Jōshū (城州), the rare Sanshū (山州), and Yōshū (雍州).

On 4 December 794 (8 Shimotsuki, 13th year of Enryaku), at the time of the establishment of Heian-kyō, because Emperor Kanmu made his new capital utilize the surroundings as natural fortification, the character for shiro was finally changed to "castle" (山城国).

Just from Nara period writings, it is apparent that the "area" (山代国) and "ridge" (山背国) listings coexisted.

A European geographical dictionary published in 1697, well into the Tokugawa period, describes "Yamaxiro" as a "kingdom in Japan," with "Meaco" (Miyako, i.e. Kyoto) as its "capital.

"[2] The provincial temples included those where the resident chief priest was a man, and those where it was a woman in Sōraku District.