A map of Edo (Tokyo) from the 1840′s. In the centre is Edo Castle, home of the Shogun, and today’s I
A map of Edo (Tokyo) from the 1840′s. In the centre is Edo Castle, home of the Shogun, and today’s Imperial Palace. The various mon (crests) scattered around the centre of the page are the residences of the Daimyō. They didn’t live in these places, but all Daimyō had to visit Edo at least once a year for an extended period time, a measure enacted so that the Shogun could tightly control the various feudal lords. Shimazu (centered on Kagoshima) was the exception, due to the distance between themselves and Edo. They agreed to make the trek every two years instead. Ironic considering Shimazu, and the Satsuma Domain, which they controlled, would play an instrumental part in overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1868.The line between ‘Yamanote’ 山の手and ‘Shitamachi 下町 is noticeable. Shitamachi was the area of Edo primarily occupied by merchants and artisans. Ukiyo, also known as the ‘floating world’, an urban culture in Edo flourished in this part of Edo. The bottom right of the map roughly corresponds to this area. Keep in mind that the orientation of this map is strange. ‘South’ is towards the left.Yamanote was traditionally the affluent, upper-class area of Edo. Hence the large number of Daimyōresidences. -- source link
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