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歌川広重筆「東海道五十三次内 品川」(江戸時代) / 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション

The Five Highways (Go kaido)

A system of five major routes centrally administered by the Tokugawa Shogunate, with facilities for travel, including that mandated by the system of alternate attendance

Go kaido (the five highways) refers to the five major land routes established by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The five highways, which extended in all directions from Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo, were the Tokaido, Nakasendo, Koshudochu, Nikkodochu, and Oshudochu. The Shogunate directly administered the five highways out of political and military necessity. Under the jurisdiction of so-called road magistrates, post stations were built, checkpoints established, and strict regulations were put in place. The Shogunate ensured that roads were maintained, overpasses built, post stations established, and men and horses available for transportation. This infrastructure was used mainly for official purposes, such as the system of alternate attendance, under which feudal lords had to reside several months each year in the capital, which necessitated frequent travel between their domains and Edo. Apart from these official purposes, the highways also facilitated travel for ordinary people and significantly contributed to the distribution of goods and spread of culture.

Related People, Things and Events

Books

Books about the Tokaido

Books about the Nakasendo

Books about the Koshudochu

Books about the Nikkodochu

Books about the Oshudochu

Related Works

Videos

Past Exhibitions

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Institutions Holding Related Materials

  • 神奈川県川崎市の川崎文化財団が運営する博物館で、川崎宿の模型や文物の展示のほか、川崎宿に関するイベントや落語会などを開催している。

  • 静岡県静岡市清水区の由比本陣公園内にある美術館。歌川広重の代表的な東海道シリーズ『東海道五拾三次之内』(保永堂版東海道)、『東海道五十三次』(隷書東海道)、『東海道五十三次之内』(行書東海道)など約1,400点を収蔵する。なお、由比本陣公園はかつての東海道由比宿の本陣跡地。

  • 岐阜県中津川市にある資料館。中津川宿に関する歴史資料の展示のほか、木曽の木材運搬や地域の生活、島崎藤村などについての各種のイベントを開催している。

  • 中山道が通る岐阜県恵那市にある美術館。市内の浮世絵収集家、故田中春雄氏から寄贈を受けた歌川広重の浮世絵版画「田中コレクション」を中心として、平成13年(2001)に整備開館された。

  • 東京都墨田区にあり、通信文化協会が運営する博物館。「五街道分間延絵図」などを収蔵している。

  • The National Diet Library (NDL), founded in 1948, is the library which belongs to the Diet. The NDL assists the activities of the National Diet. The Library collects and conserves materials and information both from Japan and abroad, serving as a foundation of knowledge and culture and providing library services to administrative and judicial entities and Japanese citizens.

  • The National Archives is an organization for preserving, as historical materials, public records and archives of importance transferred from state organs, and providing them for public use, with the aim of achieving appropriate preservation and use of such public records and archives that are kept in the National Archives or state organs as historical materials.

  • As Japan’s representative museum, Tokyo National Museum collects, preserves, displays, and researches the cultural properties of Asia with a focus on Japan, and also provides educational programs.

  • GSI, being the competent authority of the Survey Act, conducts national surveying and mapping activities, which provide a basis for the land management.

  • The Photo Archives of Japan is archiving organization specialized in photographic film and plates.

External Links

  • 日本の道の歴史をたどり、各時代における道のあり方や道路制度、道路・交通政策について紹介する。

  • 国土形成史から見た社会資本整備

References

  1. 平凡社
  2. 加藤友康 [ほか]編,吉川弘文館
  3. 歴史学研究会 編,岩波書店