User:Mimiesouris/Half-guardian

"Hangokushugo" (半国守護) refers to a situation during the Muromachi period in which the shogunate appointed two guardians (守護) instead of the usual one for a specific province, effectively splitting the position in half. It can refer to either the appointed guardian or the perception from external sources due to the presence of two individuals holding guardian-like powers.

Initially, there was a system known as "bun-gun-shugo" (分郡守護), where a province was divided into several districts, and guardians were appointed for each district. The concept of "hangokushugo" can be seen as an extension of this system, representing a division of a province into roughly half its size. It could also be implemented as a temporary measure, and the specific forms and circumstances varied. Similar to the bun-gun-shugo system, the purpose of hangokushugo was often to maintain a balance of power among influential daimyo within the same clan or those with vested interests in the respective province.

In the province of Omi (present-day Shiga Prefecture), the Sasaki clan was divided into two halves. The Kitakita (northern) half was occupied by the Kyogoku clan, while the Minamikata (southern) half was controlled by the Rokkaku clan. The Kyogoku clan held the positions of guardians in Izumo, Oki, and Hida, while the Rokkaku clan served as the guardians of Omi. Although the Kyogoku clan possessed some guardian authority in Omi, it was limited and did not extend to the level of a full-fledged guardian for their own territories. Despite neither the Kyogoku clan themselves nor the shogunate considering them as the official guardians of Omi, many others who were unfamiliar with the situation often referred to them as the half-guardians of Omi.

In Izumi Province (present-day Osaka Prefecture), two members of the Hosokawa clan were appointed as guardians (守護). Both individuals shared the responsibility for governing the entire Izumi Province through joint rule, and this arrangement was referred to as the half-guardianship of Izumi. The guardian offices of the two guardians, known as the Upper Guardian Family (和泉上守護家) and the Lower Guardian Family (和泉下守護家), were located in Sakai. When carrying out their duties, both guardians would participate together. This unique system was established by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to prevent the consolidation of power by a single guardian in response to the rebellions led by the Yamana and Ōuchi clans during the Meitoku Rebellion and Ōei Rebellion, respectively. As both clans had their bases in Sakai, Yoshimitsu suppressed them and implemented this special multiple guardianship system.