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Original ishidatami (stone paving) on the Nakasendō.
Original ishidatami (stone paving) on the Nakasendō.

The Nakasendō (中山道?) was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. The were the five major roads ( Kaidō) that started at Edo (now Tokyo) during the Edo period, the most important of which was the Tōkaidō The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868 literally bay - Door, " Estuary " edo once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. There were 69 stations between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces. The are the rest areas along the Nakasendō, which ran from Nihonbashi in Edo (modern day Tokyo) to Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo prefecture, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture, mainly was an old province located in the Tōsandō of Japan which today comprises Gunma prefecture. is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano Prefecture. one of the Old provinces of Japan, was composed of nearly the entire southern part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. For other meanings of Omi see Omi (disambiguation. is an old province of Japan which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. Before the modern prefecture system was established the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni (国 countries) usually known in [1] In addition to Tokyo and Kyoto, the Nakasendō runs through the modern-day prefectures of Saitama, Gunma, Nagano, Gifu and Shiga, with a total distance of approximately 534 km (332 mi). WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. [2]

Unlike the coastal Tōkaidō, the Nakasendō traveled inland, hence its name, which can be translated as "road through the central mountains" (as opposed to the Tōkaidō, which roughly meant "road near the eastern sea"). The was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. Because it was such a well-developed road, many famous persons, including the haiku master Matsuo Bashō, traveled the road. is a form of Japanese poetry. Previously called was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan During his lifetime Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form today Many people, including women, preferred traveling along the Nakasendō because it did not require travelers to ford any rivers. [2][3]

Contents

Pre-Nakasendō

Ritsuryō

Around the beginning of the seventh century, during the beginning of Ritsuryō, the area that would eventually make up the Nakasendō was developed to connect Kinai (modern day Kansai region), which held the former capital of Japan, with the provinces of the Tōsandō (part of the gokishichidō) that lie to the east. is the historical Law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan 's main island Honshū. The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan 's main island Honshū. was an old Japanese geographical region that made up the Gokishichidō system and was situated along the central mountains of Honshū. Tōsandō (northeast through the Japanese Alps) Hokurikudō (northeast along the Sea of Japan coast

Sengoku period

During the Sengoku period, which lasted from the 15th to 17th centuries, the Tōsandō was controlled by the Takeda (Kai Province), Ogasawara (Shinano Province), Kanamori (Hida Province) and Oda (Mino Province) clans. The was a famous clan of Daimyō (feudal lords in Japan's late Heian Period to Sengoku period. The was a Japanese Samurai clan descended from the Seiwa Genji. is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano Prefecture. is an old province located in the Tōsandō area of Japan and today composes the Hida region in the northern part of modern Gifu Prefecture The was a family of Japanese Daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century one of the Old provinces of Japan, was composed of nearly the entire southern part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. This is a list of Japanese Clans The ancient clans ( Gōzoku) mentioned in the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki lost their political In order to connect the Tōsandō with the Tōkaidō (and Takeda's troops with Oda's), a road system was developed. The was originally an old Japanese geographical region that made up the Gokishichidō system and was situated along the southeastern edge of Honshū, its name literally This route is generally followed by the modern day national highways numbered 52, 151, 153, and 22. Japan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. is a national highway connecting Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and Gifu, Gifu Prefecture in Japan.

Creation of the Nakasendō

A modern-day guidepost for the Nakasendō near Musa-juku.
A modern-day guidepost for the Nakasendō near Musa-juku.

In the early years of the Edo period, many political, legal, cultural and intellectual changes took place. The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868 Among them was the rejuvenation of Japan's thousand-year-old highway system. Five roads were formally nominated as official routes for the use of the shogun and the other daimyo and to provide the Tokugawa shogunate with the communications network that it needed to stabilize and rule the country. is a military rank and historical title in Japan. The Japanese word for "general" it is made up of two Kanji words sho, meaning "commander" The ( were powerful territorial lords who ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the, and the, was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the Shoguns of [3] One of these five roads was the Nakasendō, which stretched from Edo, from where the shogun wielded the real power, through the central mountain ranges of Honshū and on to Kyoto. literally bay - Door, " Estuary " edo once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the or Honshu is the largest Island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of

Until the establishment of these formal trade routes, many shorter routes had existed, connecting towns over various distances. One such route was the Kisoji, which had all eleven post towns become part of the Nakasendō (from Niekawa-juku to Magome-juku). was an old trade route in the Kiso Valley that stretched from Niekawa-juku in Nagano Prefecture to Magome-juku in Gifu Prefecture. was the thirty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. was the forty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, an ancient road that connected Kyoto and Edo during the Edo period. [4] Prior to the Edo period, the route had been called both Sandō (山道) and Tōsandō (東山道). During the Edo Period, the name was changed to Nakasendō, though it was written as both 中山道 and 中仙道, but the Tokugawa Shogunate established 中山道 as the official name in 1716.

The Nakasendō today

Along the Nakasendō between Tsumago and Magome.
Along the Nakasendō between Tsumago and Magome.

Though there has been much modern development along the Nakasendō, a few stretches remain in its original form, while others have been restored in more recent decades. The most well-known section lies in the Kiso Valley, between Tsumago-juku in Nagano Prefecture and Magome-juku in Gifu Prefecture. is a geographical area that centers on the Valley of the upper portions of the Kiso River in the southwestern part of Nagano Prefecture in Japan. was the forty-second of the sixty-nine post towns on the Nakasendō. was the forty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, an ancient road that connected Kyoto and Edo during the Edo period. The area was first made famous by the early 20th-century writer Shimazaki Tōson, who chronicled the effects of the Meiji Restoration on the valley in his landmark novel Yoake Mae ("Before the Dawn"). is the Pen-name of a Japanese author, active in the Meiji, Taishō and early Showa period Japan. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure is Tōson Shimazaki 's most famous Historical novel. It was originally published in Chūōkōron in 1929 as a serial work This eight-kilometer section of the Nakasendō can still be travelled along comfortably by foot, and both Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku have preserved and restored the traditional architecture. The walk between the historical post towns requires two to three hours to walk, with forests, restored paving and fine views of waterfalls along the way.

Although much of the Nakasendō no longer exists in its historic form, its route is now roughly followed by modern roads. In order, they are:

There are also modern railroads that follow the Nakasendō's path and they are the Takasaki Line, Shinetsu Main Line, Chūō Main Line, Taita Line and Tōkaidō Main Line. National Route 17 is a highway on the island of Honshū in Japan. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1900. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on National Route 18 is a national highway connecting Takasaki Gunma and Joetsu Niigata in Japan. is a town located in Kitasaku District, Nagano, Japan. As of January 1 2008, the town has an estimated Population WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū is a city located in Nagano, Japan. Due to the refounding of Saku back on April 1, 2005, the city became the fifth city in Nagano Prefecture is a town located in Suwa District, Nagano, Japan. It is located on Lake Suwa, a large natural lake surrounded by mountains National Route 20 is a national highway connecting Tokyo and Nagano Prefecture in Japan. is a city located in Nagano, Japan. History Municipal Area Changes April 1, 1927 -The village National Route 19 is a national highway connecting Nagoya and Nagano in Japan. is a city located in the Tōnō region of Gifu Prefecture, Japan. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. is a national highway connecting Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture and Maibara, Shiga Prefecture in Japan. is a town located in Kani District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. As of 2003, the town had an estimated Population of 19594 and a is a city located in Shiga, Japan. As of August 1, 2006, the city has an estimated Population of 42154 National Route 8 is an important highway in the Hokuriku and Kansai regions is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on October 15, 1954, and as of 2008 the city has an estimated National Route 1 is a major highway on the island of Honshū in Japan. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. is a 747- Kilometre Railway line that runs from Ōmiya Station in Saitama Saitama, Japan to Takasaki Station in Takasaki Gunma is a set of lines operated by the East Japan Railway Company. The, commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the trunk lines of JR in Japan. The is part of the Central Japan Railway Company network in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The is the busiest trunk line of Japan Railway (JR connecting Tokyo Station and Kobe Station.

See also

References

  1. ^ Nakasendou Jouhou. The are the rest areas along the Nakasendō, which ran from Nihonbashi in Edo (modern day Tokyo) to Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto was an old Japanese geographical region that made up the Gokishichidō system and was situated along the central mountains of Honshū. The were the five major roads ( Kaidō) that started at Edo (now Tokyo) during the Edo period, the most important of which was the Tōkaidō The was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. The was one of the five routes of the Edo period and it was built to connect Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Kai Province in modern-day Yamanashi The was one of the five routes of the Edo period and it was built to connect Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Mutsu Province and the present-day The was one of the five routes of the Edo period and it was built to connect Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with the Nikkō Tōshō-gū, which is located (Japanese) NEC Corporation. Accessed August 18, 2007. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  2. ^ a b Yama to Keikoku Publishing (2006). Nakasendō o Aruku (Revised ed. ). Osaka: Yama to Keikoku Publishing. ISBN 4-635-60037-8.
  3. ^ a b Japan Atlas: Nakasendo. WebJapan. Accessed August 2, 2007. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  4. ^ Kisoji Shukuba-machi Series. (Japanese) Higashi Nihon Denshin Denwa. Accessed July 24, 2007. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
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