Edo castleChiyoda ward, Tokyo

  • Edo castle in spring 1
  • Spring Edo Castle 2
  • Spring Edo Castle 3
  • Spring Edo Castle 4
  • Spring Edo Castle 5
  • Spring Edo Castle 6
  • Spring Edo Castle 7
  • Spring Edo Castle 8
  • Spring Edo Castle 9
  • Spring Edo Castle 10
  • Autumn Edo Castle 1
  • Autumn Edo Castle 2
  • Edo castle in autumn 3
  • Autumn Edo Castle 4
  • Autumn Edo Castle 5
  • Edo castle in autumn 6
  • Autumn Edo Castle 7
  • Autumn Edo Castle 8
  • Edo castle in winter 1
  • Edo castle in winter 2
  • Edo castle in winter 3
  • Edo castle in winter 4
  • Edo castle in winter 5
  • Edo castle in winter 6
  • Edo castle in winter 7
  • Edo castle in winter 8
  • Edo castle in winter 9
Edo Castle DATA
Other nameEshiro, Chiyoda Castle
castle construction1457
address1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access to Edo Castle
5 minutes walk from JR Tokyo Station

HISTORYEdo Castle, the symbol of the Edo Shogunate

Edo Castle is a flat castle located in Chiyoda, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Currently, it is the Imperial Palace where His Majesty the Emperor resides. Edo Castle was the political center of the Tokugawa shogunate and home to 15 shoguns for 250 years. Let's unravel the history of Edo Castle.

Edo Castle before the establishment of the Edo Shogunate
Edo Castle was built by Dokan Ota in the first year of Choroku (1457), and later became a branch castle of the Hojo clan in the fourth year of Taiei (1524). Dokan Ota built Edo Castle to suppress the Chiba clan of Boso, a powerful military commander on the Kakubo side. Hie Shrine, Tsukido Shrine, Hirakawa Tenmangu Shrine, etc. that still remain today were recommended by Dokan Ota for protection during the construction of Edo Castle. Dokan Ota's name still remains in Dokanbori. When Dokan Ota was assassinated by Sadamasa Uesugi in 1487, he expelled Dokan Ota's eldest son Moneyasu Ota from Edo Castle and took Edo Castle for himself. It is said that Moneyasu Ota wandered around the country for over 20 years and was finally able to return to Edo Castle in 1505.
In 1524, Hojo Ujitsuna of the Gohojo clan took control of Edo Castle after defeating the Ogigaya Uesugi clan. At that time, Edo Castle was regarded as an important transportation point, as there was Shinagawa Minato to the south, and to the south there was a water and land transportation route that went to Kamakura via Mutsuura (Kanazawa). In 1590, when the Gohojo clan was destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara, Edo Castle was also surrendered. In the same year, Tokugawa Ieyasu entered the Kanto region, having been given the eight Kanshu provinces of the former Gohojo clan by Hideyoshi.
At that time, Edo Castle was in ruins because 140 years had passed since it was built by Dokan, and it is said that the land of Edo was a lonely land with grassland and Susukino. In addition to Honmaru and Ninomaru, Tokugawa Ieyasu expanded the Nishinomaru, Sannomaru, Fukiage, and Kitanomaru, and also carried out large-scale expansion and civil engineering work to relocate Dosanbori and Hirakawa to the central part of Edomae Island (Sotohorigawa River), and built Edo Castle. They rebuilt it into something suitable for their own castle.
Edo Castle after the establishment of the Edo Shogunate
Keicho 8 (1603) Tokugawa Ieyasu, who established the Edo shogunate, embarked on the expansion of Edo Castle through national construction. They demolished Mt. Kanda and completely reclaimed Hibiya Inlet, and while constructing the Sotomorigawa River, they ordered feudal lords from all over the country to transport stones and further expand Edo Castle. The person who designed it at this time was Todo Takatora.
In 1607, he ordered the feudal lords of Kanto, Ou, and Shinetsu to repair the castle tower and stone embankment. Influential military commanders such as Date Masamune and Uesugi Kagekatsu were also involved in this construction. In this year, the Keicho Castle Tower was completed.
In 1611, the Nishinomaru stone wall construction was assigned to the eastern daimyo. Tokugawa Ieyasu had already retired at this time, but his successor, Tokugawa Hidetada, continued to expand. In 1614, the stone walls were repaired, but the Osaka Winter Siege and Osaka Summer Siege took place the following year, and Tokugawa Ieyasu decided to suspend construction of the castle for three years due to the exhaustion of the feudal lords. I did.
After that, after 6 years of Genna period (1618) and 8 years of Kane'i period (1628), Kanda River Ochanomizu was started in Manji 3 (1660). Tenka Fusho was completed with the widening work, which was a major construction project that took more than 50 years.
Later, in 1657, much of the castle structure, including the castle tower, was destroyed by the Meireki Great Fire (Furisode Fire), and the castle tower was never rebuilt after that.
Edo Castle from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era and beyond
During the Boshin War that began in 1868, the new government army defeated the former Shogunate army in the battles of Toba and Fushimi, and designated March 15, 1868 as the day of the general attack on Edo. The siege network for Edo Castle was completed. However, thanks to a meeting between Katsu Kaishu, the former Shogunate army chief, and Saigo Takamori, the staff officer of the Eastern Expeditionary Forces, Edo Castle was surrendered bloodlessly without being attacked.
On April 11, 1868, Edo Castle was surrendered to the Meiji new government forces, and on October 13, it was renamed Tokyo Castle. After that, in 1869, Edo Castle became the imperial castle and became the residence of Emperor Meiji with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. With the completion of Meiji Palace in 1881, the name came to be known as Miyagi. Many of the buildings that remained from the Edo period were damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred on September 1, 1923. At this time, the collapsed Wadakuramon (Yagura Gate) was not restored, and the turret part of the repaired Yagura Gate was dismantled. In 1945, Otemon was burnt down by an American air raid. In 1950, it was renamed the Imperial Palace, and remains to this day.
summary
Most of the current Edo Castle grounds are the Imperial Palace, so the general public is not allowed to enter, except on special occasions such as public visits. but. You can also remember Edo Castle from days gone by from the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens and the public road that also serves as the Imperial Palace running course. Tokyo is rapidly changing as the capital of Japan, and only a few traces of the Edo period remain in place names and some historic sites, but since Edo Castle (Imperial Palace) became Miyagi, it retains a strong trace of the Edo period. It can be said that it is a place where The area around the Imperial Palace is also designated as a special historical site as the ruins of Edo Castle.

Read about incidents related to Edo Castle

Boshin WarThe Great War that determined the trends of the end of the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration
The Tokugawa-Edo shogunate, which had lasted for 260 years, ended with the Restoration of Imperial Government, but the Tokugawa family continued to hold power. In response, members of the new government such as the Satsuma, Choshu, and Tosa clans sided with the former shogunate in order to seize control of the government.
Boshin War
One country, one castle ordinanceThe shogunate's daimyo control measures led to the disappearance of more than 2,000 castles.
After Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo shogunate after winning the Battle of Sekigahara, the shogunate issued the ``One Country, One Castle Rei'' in 1615 to control the feudal lords. is. As you can see from the name, in principle, residence is required for each country (regime country).
One country, one castle ordinance
Great prison of AnseiLarge-scale repression by Naosuke Ii
From 1858 to 1859, during the turbulent period at the end of the Edo period when the Edo shogunate was shaken by the opening of the country and the expulsion of foreigners, Naosuke Ii, the chief elder of the Edo shogunate, suppressed anti-shogunate forces. Great prison.” Hitoshi Tokugawa, the lord of Mito, known as the Joi faction
Great prison of Ansei
samurai lawsEdo period feudal lord control laws including the Genwa Rei
During the Summer Siege in Osaka in 1615, the Edo shogunate destroyed the Toyotomi family. Immediately after that, the second shogun, Hidetada Tokugawa, issued a set of 13 articles called ``Samurai Laws'' to feudal lords across the country. The laws that set forth the norms for daimyo are the most
samurai laws
Incident outside the Sakuradamon gateNaosuke Ii assassination case
On March 3, 1860, the world was shocked. The elder Ii Naosuke was assassinated outside the Sakuradamon gate of Edo Castle (present-day Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) by roni samurai from the Mito domain. Due to an incident called the ``Sakuradamongai Incident'',
Incident outside the Sakuradamon gate
Ako incidentThe revenge incident of the 47 Ako warriors that became the basis for the Chushingura
Chushingura is a TV drama that is popular during the year-end and New Year holidays. The story of the 47 warriors, including Kuranosuke Oishi, who rose to avenge their master's regrets, has been made into not only television, but also movies, novels, kabuki, and plays. Such “Chushingura”
Ako incident
sankin kataiDaimyo procession and financial difficulties
Sankinkotai is a festival in which a procession of feudal lords travels between Edo and Kunimoto. Each domain held a splendid daimyo procession with great pride to demonstrate its authority, which led to the development of highways and post towns, but it is also known that each domain fell into financial difficulties due to huge expenses. Jiang
sankin katai
ban on christianityIeyasu's ban on Christianity
Christianity was brought to Japan by Francis Xavier in 1549. Initially, Japanese Christians (Kirishitans) were recognized for their faith, and during the time of Oda Nobunaga, the number of Christians increased mainly in Kyushu and Kinai.
ban on christianity
Laws concerning the Imperial Court and the NoblesThe Edo Shogunate controlled the Imperial Court and the nobles
The Edo Shogunate issued various laws to regulate feudal lords, samurai, the Imperial Court, and the nobles. For samurai, the second Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, issued the "Buke Shohatto" in July 1615 (the 20th year of the Keicho era). For the Imperial Court and the nobles, almost
Laws concerning the Imperial Court and the Nobles
National isolation"National Isolation" by the Edo Shogunate
During the Edo period, Japan implemented a policy of national isolation that restricted trade and diplomacy with other countries. However, this was not the original meaning of "national isolation," which was to close the country off and become isolated, and Japan was not in contact with the Netherlands, China (Ming and Qing), Korea, or the Ryukyu Kingdom.
National isolation
Great Fire of MeirekiThe biggest fire in the Edo period
Fires broke out frequently in the city of Edo, so much so that it was said that "fires and quarrels are the flowers of Edo." Large-scale fires also occurred frequently, but the largest fire in the Edo period was the "Meireki Fire" that occurred in January 1657 (Meireki 3).
Great Fire of Meireki
The rule of righteousnessPolitical reform by Arai Hakuseki
The Tokugawa Shogunate was on the verge of collapse due to the extravagant spending of the 5th Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. In the midst of this, the Confucian scholar Arai Hakuseki, who served the 6th Shogun, Tokugawa Ienobu, and the 7th Shogun, Tokugawa Ietsugu, desperately tried to restore the Shogunate's finances.
The rule of righteousness
Kyoho reformTokugawa Yoshimune's Great Reforms
During the Edo period, many political reforms were carried out, but the "Kyoho Reforms" by the eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, famous for the novel "Abarenbo Shogun", were the only reforms that the shogun himself took charge of. Yoshimune actively promoted talented people regardless of their social status, fixed the amount of annual taxes, and established new fields.
Kyoho reform
Order to Show Compassion for Living ThingsThe nation's most evil laws are being reevaluated
The famous "Edict to Show Compassion for Living Things" was issued during the reign of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the fifth Shogun of the Edo Shogunate. It is a collective name for a number of laws enacted to protect living things, but it has come to be seen as an "evil law" that prioritized dogs over people and caused suffering to the general public.
Order to Show Compassion for Living Things
Great Kyoho famineThe Great Famine that Affected 2 Million People
During the Edo period, famines caused by poor harvests occurred frequently. Among them, the three major famines are known as the "Great Kyoho Famine," the "Great Tenmei Famine," and the "Great Tenpo Famine." The first of these occurred in 1732 (the 17th year of the Kyoho era), which hit Western Japan.
Great Kyoho famine
DissectionJapan's first translated anatomy book
In the mid-Edo period, the first fully-fledged translated medical book appeared in Japan. This was Kaitai Shinsho, a translation of the Dutch anatomical book Tafel Anatomie, published in 1774. Kaitai Shinsho is a familiar work in history.
Dissection
Great Tenmei FamineThe biggest famine in the Edo period
Among the famines that occurred during the Edo period, the three most famous are the "Kyoho Famine," the "Tenmei Famine," and the "Tenpo Famine." The "Tenmei Famine," which caused particularly severe damage in the Tohoku region, occurred from 1782 to 1789.
Great Tenmei Famine
ElekitelGennai Hiraga restores the static electricity generator "Erekiteru"
Gennai Hiraga is a multi-creator from the Edo period! He is famous for repairing and restoring the "Elekiteru," a device that generates static electricity using friction. He also invented fireproof cloth, held exhibitions as a botanist, and wrote Joruri puppet theatre.
Elekitel
Kansei reformMatsudaira Sadanobu's Severe Reforms
The Kansei Reforms are one of the three major reforms of the Edo period. They were implemented by Matsudaira Sadanobu, the grandson of Tokugawa Yoshimune, from 1787 to 1793 in order to fix the financial difficulties of the shogunate. Sadanobu was committed to frugality and thrift,
Kansei reform
Hizakurige on the TokaidoA great bestseller from the Edo period
In the late Edo period, pilgrimages to Ise Shrine became popular, and travel became common among the common people. Various travel guides and travelogues were published, but the famous book that sparked the travel boom was Jippensha Ikku's comic book.
Hizakurige on the Tokaido
Order to drive away foreign shipsForeign policy at the end of the Edo period aimed at maintaining national isolation
In the latter half of the Edo period, as the number of foreign ships arriving in Japan increased, the shogunate issued the "Order to Drive Away Foreign Ships" in 1825. This commanded that all foreign ships approaching the Japanese coast be driven away, but this led to a number of incidents.
Order to drive away foreign ships

Read biographies related to Edo Castle

Tokugawa IeyasuThe ruler who ended the Sengoku period
What impressions do you have of the Sengoku period? For example, the three great heroes of the Sengoku period were Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu established the Edo Shogunate after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Okazaki in Mikawa (currently Aichi Prefecture)
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa HidetadaSecond Shogun of the Edo Shogunate
As time passed from the Sengoku period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the Edo period, the warlords changed from a world of war to a world of peace, and the rewards they received increased from land (territories) to swords and tea utensils. It was a time when views changed.
Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa IemitsuThe three Shoguns who established the Edo Shogunate
After the death of Oda Nobunaga, the Sengoku period ended and Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the country. However, when he died, Toyotomi Hideyori, who was his successor, was still a child, and the country was once again in turmoil. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Battle of Sekigahara and the Edo Shogunate was established.
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa TsunayoshiThe 5th Shogun, known as the Dog Shogun
The Edo Shogunate, which Tokugawa Ieyasu established, enjoyed a stable reign under the third Shogun, Iemitsu, who put down the Amakusa Rebellion and other uprisings. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who succeeded his brother, the fourth Shogun, Ietsuna, as the fifth Shogun, conducted stable politics in the first half of his reign, but
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Tokugawa IetsunaThe fourth shogun who was not blessed with an heir
During the Edo period, the position of Shogun was steadily passed down through the direct line from the first Tokugawa Ieyasu to the second Tokugawa Hidetada and the third Tokugawa Iemitsu, and the fourth Shogun was Tokugawa Ietsuna. Ietsuna further developed the Shogunate government that Iemitsu had established as a firm foundation, and created an overall good
Tokugawa Ietsuna
Tokugawa IenobuA shogun whose reign ended in a short one
During the Edo period, from the 4th shogun onwards, the direct descendants of the first Tokugawa Ieyasu were no longer chosen, and they were increasingly chosen from the Gosanke and other branches. Nevertheless, the Shogunate's rule remained stable, and it shifted course from military rule to civil rule.
Tokugawa Ienobu

History of the Edo Shogunate, whose government was Edo Castle

Edo Shogunatethe last samurai government
The Edo Shogunate was a samurai government established in Edo in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was appointed as the Great Shogun. It was the last of the samurai government that began in the Kamakura period, and is also called the Tokugawa shogunate because the Tokugawa family inherited the position of shogun. Also,
Edo Shogunate
Edo Shogunate DATA
Government officeEdo castle
old areaEdo, Toyoshima District, Musashi Province
main castle lordTokugawa shogun family

The Edo Shogunate was the samurai government of Japan during the Edo period. It was founded in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who appointed him as the Seii Taishogun and based in Edo (present-day Tokyo). There are various theories about the end of this period, but it is said to have ended in 1867, when the Imperial Restoration was carried out.

Edo Castle column

A column by castle, temple and shrine enthusiasts

Japanese Castle Photo Contest.04