The local administration of the empire so materially extended during three successive reigns was now reorganized by the Emperor Shōmu, son of Keikō. The nature of Shōmu's reform is, however, little known. When the Emperor Jimmu established the office of local governor, there were only nine provinces, but the number was increased by more than ten during the reigns of Kaika, Sujin, and Keikō, and became sixty-three in the time of the Emperor Shōmu. The imperial sway then extended northward as far as Shinobu (the present Mutsu), Sado and Noto; eastward to Tsukuba (now Hidachi); westward to Amakusa, and southward to Kii. Throughout the whole of this district, governors were appointed to administer local affairs. Subsequently the process of division continued until, in the reign of the Emperor Suikō, the total number of provinces reached 144, at which figure it remained until 645 A. D., the date of the so-called Taikwa Reformation. These local divisions, though here spoken of as provinces, had in fact different appellations--as _kuni_, a province, or _agata_, a district--and were not of uniform area. The term _kuni_ was employed to designate an area bounded by mountains or rivers, whereas the _agata_ had no such geographical limits. In general the former was the more extensive, but in consequence of the natural features of the country the _agata_ was sometimes the larger. The entire subject of the local government of ancient Japan is, however, one of the most obscure subjects in history. The reigns of the first thirteen emperors, from Jimmu to Shōmu, may be considered the era of the founding of the Japanese Empire. The main work of the sovereigns of this period consisted in the organization, extension, and consolidation of their domain. Foreign relations had hardly begun, and external influence was as yet slightly felt. The following table gives the names of the thirteen emperors, with the officially fixed dates of their reigns: 1. Emperor Jimmu. 660-585 B. C. | 2. Emperor Suisei. 581-549 B. C. | 3. Emperor Annei. 548-510 B. C. | 4. Emperor Itoku. 510-475 B. C. | 5. Emperor Kōshō. 475-392 B. C. | 6. Emperor Kōan. 392-290 B. C. | 7. Emperor Kōrei. 290-214 B. C. | 8. Emperor Kōgen. 214-157 B. C. | 9. Emperor Kaikwa. 157-97 B. C. | 10. Emperor Sujin. 97-29 B. C. | 11. Emperor Suinin. 29 B. C.-71 A. D. | 12. Emperor Keikō. 71-131 A. D. | 13. Emperor Shōmu. 131-192 A. D. Chapter III RELATIONS WITH KOREA AND CHINA 192-645 A. D.