noun
district acting shugo; deputy military governor of a district
Historical term for a Muromachi-period official who acted as a deputy shugo (military governor) over a district. Compare 守護代, which was a deputy for an entire province.
See also: 守護代
室町時代、郡代は守護の代理として郡を治めた。
In the Muromachi period, the gundai governed a district as a deputy of the shugo.
noun
district magistrate
Historical term for an Edo-period official who administered a district under the shogunate or a domain. The role was more bureaucratic than the earlier Muromachi usage.
江戸時代の郡代は、幕府直轄地の民政を担当した。
In the Edo period, the gundai was in charge of civil administration in shogunate-controlled districts.