Emishi

Emishi (originally written as 毛人, but changed by the Nara period to 蝦夷) was a term for those people outside of the control of the Yamato polity in the northeastern (Tohoku) region of Japan. The original kanji means 'Hairy Men', and is seen in Chinese accounts as a term to describe those outside of the 'civilized' lands (i.e. those under Chinese control). The Yamato polity seems to have adopted this same attitude, using similar words to describe the 'barbaric' people who had not submitted. The Emishi appear to be of the same racial stock as the Japanese, and the term appears to have been applied to various families differently depending on their relationship with the court. Many famous families of later periods, including the Fujiwara family appear to have originated as local Emishi leaders.

By the Nara period, most of the Emishi people were located in the provinces of Dewa and Michinoku (aka Mutsu). There were several armed rebellions against Yamato rule, but the area was eventually pacified.

Emishi and the Ainu

There are some theories that the Emishi are related to the Ainu people of Hokkaido. Most sources, however, treat them as separate peoples, ethnically and culturally.

References

Piggott, Joan R. ed. Capital and Countryside in Japan, 300-1180, University of Cornell, NY, 2006.