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131-687: The warrior Edo Shigetsugu built his residence in what is now the Honmaru and Ninomaru part of Edo Castle, around the end of the Heian period (794–1185) or beginning of the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The Edo clan left in the 15th century as a result of uprisings in the Kantō region , and Ōta Dōkan , a retainer of the Ogigayatsu Uesugi family , built Edo Castle in 1457. The castle came under

262-640: A de facto return to conditions before the Taika Reform . Within decades of Daigo's death, the Fujiwara had absolute control over the court. By the year 1000, Fujiwara no Michinaga was able to enthrone and dethrone emperors at will. Little authority was left for traditional institutions, and government affairs were handled through the Fujiwara clan's private administration. The Fujiwara had become what historian George B. Sansom has called "hereditary dictators". Despite their usurpation of imperial authority,

393-399: A watari-yagura-mon is built to an adjacent left angle within the kōrai-mon , of which it has two. The other kōrai-mon is to the west of the watari-yagura-mon which was used as the "gates of the unclean" for the deceased and criminals from within the castle. Outside this gate is a wooden bridge with railings crowned with giboshi -ornamental tops. Ōte-mon ( 大手門 , "Great Hand Gate")

524-631: A certain courtier tried to ask her advice about how to write a poem to the Empress Sadako , she had to politely rebuke him because his writing was so poor. The lyrics of the modern Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo , were written in the Heian period, as was The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu , which was extremely important to the Heian court, and one of the first novels ever written. Murasaki Shikibu's contemporary and rival Sei Shōnagon's revealing observations and musings as an attendant in

655-572: A dormitory for imperial princesses, however this building was removed prior to the construction of the present gardens. Other buildings such as stables and housing were removed to create the East Garden in its present configuration. Construction work began in 1961 with a new pond in the Ninomaru, as well as the repair and restoration of various keeps and structures from the Edo period. On 30 May 1963,

786-427: A five-storey keep which was 51 meters (167 ft) in height and was thus the highest castle tower in the whole of Japan, symbolizing the power of the shōgun . The first iteration of the keep and its multiple roofs were constructed in 1607 and ornamented with gold. It was rebuilt in 1623 and again in 1638. The third version of the keep was destroyed in the 1657 Fire of Meireki and not reconstructed. The foundations of

917-582: A greater "organizational dynamism". The iconography of the Heian period is widely known in Japan, and depicted in various media, from traditional festivals to anime . Various festivals feature Heian dress – most notably Hinamatsuri (doll festival), where the dolls wear Heian dress, but also numerous other festivals, such as Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto (May) and Saiō Matsuri in Meiwa, Mie (June), both of which feature

1048-406: A lack of a sense of Japan as a single nation. Under the early courts, when military conscription had been centrally controlled, military affairs had been taken out of the hands of the provincial aristocracy. But as the system broke down after 792, local power holders again became the primary source of military strength. The re-establishment of an efficient military system was made gradually through

1179-512: A plastic pole as weapons when faced by staff and local police officers. A similar incident took place in 2013, in which two drunken tourists decided to try to sneak into the palace building after removing their clothing and entering the water near Sakurada Gate . The Imperial Palace ( 宮殿 , Kyūden ) and the headquarters of the Imperial Household Agency are located in the former Nishinomaru enceinte ( West Citadel ) of

1310-483: A population of 150,000. The existing Honmaru , Ninomaru , and Sannomaru areas were extended with the addition of the Nishinomaru , Nishinomaru-shita , Fukiage , and Kitanomaru areas. The perimeter measured 16 km. The shōgun required the daimyō s to supply building materials or finances, a method shogunate used to keep the powers of the daimyō s in check. Large granite stones were moved from afar,

1441-688: A process of trial-and-error. At that time the imperial court did not possess an army but rather relied on an organization of professional warriors composed mainly of oryoshi, which were appointed to an individual province and tsuibushi, which were appointed over imperial circuits or for specific tasks. This gave rise to the Japanese military class. Nonetheless, final authority rested with the imperial court. Shōen holders had access to manpower and, as they obtained improved military technology (such as new training methods, more powerful bows, armor, horses, and superior swords) and faced worsening local conditions in

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1572-554: A short speech greeting and thanking the visitors and wishing them good health and blessings. Parts of the Fukiage garden are sometimes open to the general public. The old Honmaru , Ninomaru , and Sannomaru compounds now comprise the East Gardens, an area with public access containing administrative and other public buildings. The Kitanomaru Park is located to the north and is the former northern enceinte of Edo Castle. It

1703-408: A solid medium of economic exchange is implicitly illustrated in novels of the time. For instance, messengers were rewarded with useful objects such as an old silk kimono , rather than being paid a monetary fee. The Fujiwara rulers failed to maintain adequate police forces, which left robbers free to prey on travelers. This is implicitly illustrated in novels by the terror that night travel inspired in

1834-459: A succession struggle among his sons, two new offices were established in an effort to adjust the Taika – Taihō administrative structure. Through the new Emperor's Private Office, the emperor could issue administrative edicts more directly and with more self-assurance than before. The new Metropolitan Police Board replaced the largely ceremonial imperial guard units. While these two offices strengthened

1965-596: A total area of 1,254 m (13,500 sq ft). The hall is octagon-shaped and each of its eight outer walls is decorated with differently designed mosaic tiles. Construction began in August 1964 and was completed in February 1966. Symbolic trees representing each prefecture in Japan are planted in the northwestern corner of Ninomaru enceinte. Such trees have been donated from each prefecture and there are total of 260, covering 30 varieties. The small Ninomaru Garden at

2096-489: Is a public park and is the site of the Nippon Budokan . To the south is Kokyo Gaien National Garden . Though much of the site is off limits to the public, there have been multiple instances of tourists attempting to trespass on the palace grounds by swimming in the moat. In 2008, a British tourist stripped naked, repeatedly dove into and swam across the moat in an attempt to avoid being arrested, and used stones and

2227-683: Is a teahouse that was once in the Fukiage garden during the Edo period. After various relocations in the Meiji era, today it is in the modern Ninomaru Garden. The sannomaru ( 三の丸 , third enceinte) is the easternmost enceinte next to the Ninomaru , separated by the Tenjin-bori . Ōte-bori is to the north, running then south is Kikyō-bori . A steep slope, Bairin-zaka ( 梅林坂 ) , runs from eastern Honmaru toward Hirakawa-mon in front of

2358-545: Is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court , noted for its art , especially poetry and literature . Two syllabaries unique to Japan, katakana and hiragana , emerged during this time. This gave rise to Japan's famous vernacular literature, with many of its texts written by court women who were not as educated in Chinese as their male counterparts. Although the Imperial House of Japan had power on

2489-468: Is also noted for the rise of the samurai class, which would eventually take power and start the feudal period of Japan. Nominally, sovereignty lay in the emperor but in fact, power was wielded by the Fujiwara nobility. However, to protect their interests in the provinces, the Fujiwara, and other noble families required guards, police and soldiers. The warrior class made steady political gains throughout

2620-468: Is based on Vajrayana Buddhism. It was brought to Japan by the monk Kūkai . Shingon Buddhism emphasizes the use of symbols, rituals, incantations and mandalas, which gave it a wide appeal. Kūkai greatly impressed the emperors who succeeded Emperor Kammu, and also generations of Japanese, not only with his holiness but also with his poetry, calligraphy, painting, and sculpture. Both Kūkai and Saichō aimed to connect state and religion and establish support from

2751-529: Is bordered by moats to the west such as the Dōkan-bori , Sakurada-bori and Gaisen-bori to the south, Kikyō-bori and Hamaguri-bori to the north. After each fire in the Honmaru , the shōgun normally moved into the Nishinomaru , although it was also destroyed by fire in 1853. On May 5, 1873, the Nishinomaru residence burned down. On its site, the imperial palace was built in the Meiji era. Heian period The Heian period ( 平安時代 , Heian jidai )

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2882-532: Is often publicly referred to as "Nijubashi". An eye-witness account is given by the French director François Caron from the Dutch colony at Dejima . He described the gates and courts being laid out in such a manner as to confuse an outsider. Caron noted the gates were not placed in a straight line, but were staggered, forcing a person to make a 90 degree turn to pass on to the next gate. This style of construction for

3013-596: Is the Japanese version of the Tiantai school from China, which is based on the Lotus Sutra , one of the most important sutras in Mahayana Buddhism. It was brought to Japan by the monk Saichō . An important element of Tendai doctrine was the suggestion that enlightenment was accessible to "every creature". Saichō also sought independent ordination for Tendai monks. A close relationship developed between

3144-510: Is the last division of classical Japanese history , running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period , beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu , moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto ). Heian ( 平安 ) means ' peace ' in Japanese. It is a period in Japanese history when the Chinese influences were in decline and the national culture matured. The Heian period

3275-408: Is the northern gate to the Honmaru ward, facing Kitanomaru ward across Daikan-cho street. It is also constructed as a masu -gate just like Ōte-mon and Hirakawa-mon , and has a watari-yagura-mon in a left angle. The bridge in front of the gate, which was once a drawbridge during the Edo period, is now fixed to the ground. The metal clasps used to draw the bridge are still attached to the roof of

3406-466: Is where the samurai guardsmen were posted to watch over the castle grounds. There is a big stone wall in front of the Dōshin-bansho , which is the foundation of the Ōte-sanno-mon watari-yagura keep. The long building to the left on the southern side of this foundation is the hyakunin-bansho ( 百人番所 ) . The Hyakunin-bansho is so called because it housed a hundred guardsmen closely associated with

3537-674: The Ritsuryō Code , this system attempted to recreate the Tang legal system in Japan, despite the "tremendous differences in the levels of development between the two countries". Despite the decline of the Taika – Taihō reforms, the imperial government was vigorous during the early Heian period. Kammu's avoidance of drastic reform decreased the intensity of political struggles, and he became recognized as one of Japan's most forceful emperors. Although Kammu had abandoned universal conscription in 792, he still waged major military offensives to subjugate

3668-487: The Ryōmin (良民 "Good People") numbered about 5,000 in a land of perhaps five million. One reason the samurai were able to take power was that the ruling nobility proved incompetent at managing Japan and its provinces. By the year 1000, the government no longer knew how to issue currency and money was gradually disappearing. Instead of a fully realized system of money circulation, rice was the primary unit of exchange. The lack of

3799-626: The Akasaka Palace after the Meiji restoration, but was reconstructed in its original location in 1912. It was moved to its present location during the construction of the East Garden. The Kitanomaru Park is located to the north and is the former northern enceinte of Edo Castle. It is a public park and is the site of Nippon Budokan Hall . This garden contains a bronze monument to Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa ( 北白川宮能久親王 , Kitashirakawa-no-miya Yoshihisa-shinnō ) . The Kokyo Gaien National Garden consists of outer gardens that ring

3930-517: The Emishi , possible descendants of the displaced Jōmon , living in northern and eastern Japan. After making temporary gains in 794, in 797, Kammu appointed a new commander, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro , under the title Seii Taishōgun ("Barbarian-subduing generalissimo"). By 801, the shōgun had defeated the Emishi and had extended the imperial domains to the eastern end of Honshū . Imperial control over

4061-820: The Emperor of Japan . It is a large park -like area located in the Chiyoda district of the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo and contains several buildings including the Fukiage Palace ( 吹上御所 , Fukiage gosho ) where the Emperor has his living quarters, the main palace ( 宮殿 , Kyūden ) where various ceremonies and receptions take place, some residences of the Imperial Family , an archive, museums and administrative offices. The 1.15-square-kilometer (0.44 sq mi) palace grounds and gardens are built on

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4192-572: The Fujimi-tamon still exists. North of the Fujimi-tamon is the ishimuro ( 石室 , "stone cellar") , on a slope. It is about 20 square meters (220 sq ft). Its precise purpose is unknown, but since it is close to the former inner palace storage area, it is believed to have been used for storage of supplies and documents for the shogunate. Shiomi-zaka ( 潮見坂 ) is a slope running alongside today's Imperial Music Department building towards Ninomaru enceinte. In old times apparently

4323-470: The Fukiage Palace ( 吹上御所 , Fukiage gosho ) , the official residence of the Emperor and empress, is located in the Fukiage Garden. Designed by Japanese architect Shōzō Uchii the modern residence was completed in 1993. The residence is currently in use by Emperor Naruhito. Except for the Imperial Household Agency and the East Gardens, the main grounds of the palace are generally closed to

4454-580: The Imperial Regalia of Japan are kept here and the sanctuary plays a religious role in imperial enthronements and weddings. The East Gardens is where most of the administrative buildings for the palace are located and encompasses the former Honmaru and Ninomaru areas of Edo Castle, a total of 210,000 m (2,300,000 sq ft). Located on the grounds of the East Gardens is the Imperial Tokagakudo Music Hall,

4585-548: The In-no-chō and of the rise of the military class throughout the country. Military might rather than civil authority dominated the government. A struggle for succession in the mid-twelfth century gave the Fujiwara an opportunity to regain their former power. Fujiwara no Yorinaga sided with the retired emperor in a violent battle in 1156 against the heir apparent, who was supported by the Taira and Minamoto ( Hōgen Rebellion ). In

4716-535: The Sannomaru was an outer moat, enclosing the Otomachi and Daimyō-Kōji districts. Ishigaki stone walls were constructed around the Honmaru and the eastern side of the Nishinomaru . Each ward could be reached via wooden bridges, which were buffered by gates on either side. The circumference is subject to debate, with estimates ranging from 6 to 10 miles. With the enforcement of the sankin-kōtai system in

4847-475: The Soga clan had taken control of the throne in the sixth century, the Fujiwara by the ninth century had intermarried with the imperial family , and one of their members was the first head of the Emperor's Private Office. Another Fujiwara became regent, Sesshō for his grandson, then a minor emperor and yet another was appointed Kampaku . Toward the end of the 9th century, several emperors tried but failed, to check

4978-469: The jūnihitoe 12-layer dress. Traditional horseback archery ( yabusame ) festivals, which date from the beginning of the Kamakura period (immediately following the Heian period) feature similar dress. < Nara period | History of Japan | Kamakura period > Tokyo Imperial Palace The Tokyo Imperial Palace ( 皇居 , Kōkyo , literally 'Imperial Residence') is the main residence of

5109-471: The kōrai -mon and its walls, and the Ōte-mon was reconstructed. The tatsumi-yagura ( 巽櫓 ) , also known as sakurada-yagura ( 桜田櫓 ) , is a two-story high keep at the easternmost corner of the Sannomaru and the only keep still remaining in it. One of the few gates left of the Ninomaru is the kikyō-mon ( 桔梗門 ) , which is also known as the Inner Sakurada-mon , as opposed to

5240-519: The shōgun to move into a daimyō residence. The last fire occurred in 1873, after which the palace was not rebuilt by the new imperial government. Behind the Honmaru Palace was the main keep. Besides being the location of the keep and palace, the Honmaru was also the site of the treasury. Three storehouses that bordered on a rampart adjoined the palace on the other side. The entrance was small, made with thick lumber and heavily guarded. Behind

5371-521: The surrender of Japan at an underground air-raid shelter on the palace grounds referred to as His Majesty's Library ( 御文庫附属室 , Obunko Fuzokushitsu ) . Due to the large-scale destruction of the Meiji-era palace, a new main palace hall ( 宮殿 , Kyūden ) and residences were constructed on the western portion of the site in 1964–1968, designed by architect Junzō Yoshimura . The area was renamed Imperial Residence ( 皇居 , Kōkyo ) in 1948, while

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5502-485: The (Outer) Sakurada-mon in the south. The architecture of the tower is a gate and in the kōrai style. The nishinomaru ( 西の丸 , western ward) was the location of the palaces and residences of the retired shōgun and the heir-apparent for a while. The outer part of the Nishinomaru to the east (today's Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace) was the site of various residences of daimyōs . The Nishinomaru

5633-477: The 17th century, it became expedient for the daimyōs to set up residence in Edo close to the shōgun . Surrounding the inner compounds of the castle were the residences of daimyōs , most of which were concentrated at the Outer Sakurada Gate to the south-east and in the Ōtemachi and Daimyō-Kōji districts east of the castle inside the outer moat. Some residences were also within the inner moats in

5764-411: The 6-year old Emperor. He perished, but his mother survived. Takakura's other son succeeded as Emperor Go-Toba . With Yoritomo firmly established, the bakufu system that governed Japan for the next seven centuries was in place. He appointed military governors, or shugo , to rule over the provinces, and stewards, or jito to supervise public and private estates. Yoritomo then turned his attention to

5895-587: The Buddhist institutions there. Kyoto had good river access to the sea and could be reached by land routes from the eastern provinces. The early Heian period (784–967) continued Nara culture; the Heian capital was patterned on the Chinese Tang capital at Chang'an , as was Nara, but on a larger scale than Nara. Kammu endeavored to improve the Tang-style administrative system which was in use. Known as

6026-691: The Edo Castle. The main buildings of the palace grounds, including the Kyūden ( 宮殿 ) main palace, home of the liaison conference of the Imperial General Headquarters , were severely damaged by the fire of May 1945. Today's palace consists of multiple modern structures that are interconnected. The palace complex was finished in 1968 and was constructed of steel-framed reinforced concrete structures produced domestically, with two stories above ground and one story below. The buildings of

6157-513: The Empress' court were recorded collectively as The Pillow Book in the 990s, which revealed the quotidian capital lifestyle. The Heian period produced a flowering of poetry including works of Ariwara no Narihira , Ono no Komachi , Izumi Shikibu , Murasaki Shikibu, Saigyō and Fujiwara no Teika . The famous Japanese poem known as the Iroha (いろは), of uncertain authorship, was also written during

6288-416: The Fujiwara after centuries of imitating Chinese forms. Vividly colored yamato-e , Japanese style paintings of court life and stories about temples and shrines became common in the mid-to-late Heian period, setting patterns for Japanese art to this day. As culture flourished, so did decentralization. Whereas the first phase of shōen development in the early Heian period had seen the opening of new lands and

6419-407: The Fujiwara presided over a period of cultural and artistic flowering at the imperial court and among the aristocracy. There was great interest in graceful poetry and vernacular literature . Two types of phonetic Japanese script: katakana , a simplified script that was developed by using parts of Chinese characters, was abbreviated to hiragana , a cursive syllabary with a distinct writing method that

6550-609: The Fujiwara, felt threatened with the loss of their lands. Go-Sanjo also established the In-no-chō  [ ja ] ( 院庁 "Office of the Cloistered Emperor"), which was held by a succession of emperors who abdicated to devote themselves to behind-the-scenes governance, or insei . The In-no-chō filled the void left by the decline of Fujiwara power. Rather than being banished, the Fujiwara were mostly retained in their old positions of civil dictator and minister of

6681-425: The Fujiwara. For a time, however, during the reign of Emperor Daigo (897–930), the Fujiwara regency was suspended as he ruled directly. Nevertheless, the Fujiwara were not demoted by Daigo but actually became stronger during his reign. Central control of Japan had continued to decline, and the Fujiwara, along with other great families and religious foundations, acquired ever larger shōen and greater wealth during

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6812-433: The Heian period. During the Heian period, beauty was widely considered an important part of what made one a "good" person. In cosmetic terms, aristocratic men and women powdered their faces and blackened their teeth, the latter termed ohaguro . The male courtly ideal included a faint mustache and thin goatee , while women's mouths were painted small and red, and their eyebrows were plucked or shaved and redrawn higher on

6943-402: The Heian period. As early as 939 AD, Taira no Masakado threatened the authority of the central government, leading an uprising in the eastern province of Hitachi , and almost simultaneously, Fujiwara no Sumitomo rebelled in the west. Still, a true military takeover of the Japanese government was centuries away, when much of the strength of the government would lie within the private armies of

7074-731: The Imperial Palace were constructed by the Takenaka Corporation in a modernist style with clear Japanese architectural references such as the large, gabled hipped roof, columns and beams. The complex consists of six wings, including: Halls include the Minami-Damari , Nami-no-Ma , multiple corridors, Kita-Damari , Shakkyō-no-Ma , Shunju-no-Ma , Seiden-Sugitoe (Kaede) , Seiden-Sugitoe (Sakura) , Take-no-Ma , Ume-no-Ma and Matsu-no-Ma . Famous Nihonga artists such as Maeda Seison were commissioned to paint

7205-514: The Japanese Misplaced Pages entries irome and kasane-no-irome ). While the Heian period was an unusually long period of peace, it can also be argued that the period weakened Japan economically and led to poverty for all but a tiny few of its inhabitants. The control of rice fields provided a key source of income for families such as the Fujiwara and was a fundamental base of their power. The aristocratic beneficiaries of Heian culture,

7336-532: The Kan-ei era (1624–1644). Surrounding the Honmaru were curtain walls, with 11 keeps, 15 defense houses and more than 20 gates. Honmaru was destroyed several times by fire and reconstructed after each fire. The keep and main palace were destroyed in 1657 and 1863, respectively, and not reconstructed. Some remains, such as the Fujimi-yagura keep and Fujimi-tamon defense house, still exist. The Honmaru

7467-428: The Meiji era were constructed of wood. Their design employed traditional Japanese architecture in their exterior appearance while the interiors were an eclectic mixture of fashionable Japanese and European elements. The ceilings of the grand chambers were coffered with Japanese elements; however, Western chairs, tables and heavy curtains furnished the spaces. The floors of the public rooms had parquets or carpets, while

7598-832: The Music Department of the Board of Ceremonies of the Imperial Household, the Archives and Mausolea Department Imperial Household Agency, structures for the guards such as the Saineikan dojo , and the Museum of the Imperial Collections . Several structures that were added since the Meiji period were removed over time to allow construction of the East Garden. In 1932, the kuretake-ryō was built as

7729-508: The Tendai monastery complex on Mount Hiei and the imperial court in its new capital at the foot of the mountain. As a result, Tendai emphasized great reverence for the emperor and the nation. Emperor Kammu himself was a notable patron of the otherworldly Tendai sect, which rose to great power over the ensuing centuries. Shingon is the Japanese version of the Zhenyen school from China, which

7860-600: The Tokugawa clan. The large stone wall in front of the Hyakunin-bansho is all that is left of the Naka-no-mon watari-yagura (Inner Gate Keep). This building to the inner-right side of the gate is the Ō-bansho ( 大番所 ) . As the Honmaru enceinte was said to begin right behind the Naka-no-mon gate, the Ō-bansho probably played a key role in the security of Edo Castle. The Suwa-no-Chaya ( 諏訪の茶屋 )

7991-567: The area was declared by the Japanese government a "Special Historic Relic" under the Cultural Properties Protection Law. The Tōkagakudō ( 桃華楽堂 , Peach Blossom Music Hall) is located to the east of the former main donjon of Edo Castle in the Honmaru. Designed by Kenji Imai , this music hall was built in commemoration of the 60th birthday of Empress Kōjun on 6 March 1963. The ferro-concrete building covers

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8122-471: The aristocracy, leading to the notion of "aristocratic Buddhism". Although written Chinese ( kanbun ) remained the official language of the Heian period imperial court, the introduction and widespread use of kana saw a boom in Japanese literature . Despite the establishment of several new literary genres such as the novel and narrative monogatari (物語) and essays, literacy was only common among

8253-563: The artworks. The Kyūden is used for both receiving state guests and holding official state ceremonies and functions. The Matsu-no-Ma ( Pine Chamber ) is the throne room. The Emperor gives audiences to the Prime Minister in this room, as well as appointing or dismissing ambassadors and Ministers of State . It is also the room where the Prime Minister and Chief Justice is appointed to office. The Fukiage Garden has carried

8384-403: The center while being bypassed in decision making. In time, many of the Fujiwara were replaced, mostly by members of the rising Minamoto clan . While the Fujiwara fell into disputes among themselves and formed northern and southern factions, the insei system allowed the paternal line of the imperial family to gain influence over the throne. The period from 1086 to 1156 was the age of supremacy of

8515-462: The city where merchants were able to settle. At least 10,000 men were involved in the first phase of the construction and more than 300,000 in the middle phase. When construction ended, the castle had 38 gates. The ramparts were almost 20 meters (66 ft) high and the outer walls were 12 meters (39 ft) high. Moats forming roughly concentric circles were dug for further protection. Some moats reached as far as Ichigaya and Yotsuya , and parts of

8646-508: The control of the Later Hōjō clan in 1524 after the Siege of Edo . The castle was vacated in 1590 due to the Siege of Odawara . Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo Castle his base after he was offered eight eastern provinces by Toyotomi Hideyoshi . He later defeated Toyotomi Hideyori , son of Hideyoshi, at the Siege of Osaka in 1615, and emerged as the political leader of Japan. Tokugawa Ieyasu received

8777-424: The court and Buddhist clergy. Poetry, in particular, was a staple of court life. Nobles and ladies-in-waiting were expected to be well versed in the art of writing poetry as a mark of their status. Every occasion could call for the writing of a verse, from the birth of a child to the coronation of an emperor, or even a pretty scene of nature. A well-written poem could easily make or break one's reputation, and often

8908-428: The court aristocracy who had become prominent provincial figures. These military families gained prestige from connections to the imperial court and court-granted military titles and access to manpower. The Fujiwara family, Taira clan, and Minamoto clan were among the most prominent families supported by the new military class. A decline in food production, the growth of the population, and competition for resources among

9039-449: The early tenth century. By the early Heian period, the shōen had obtained legal status, and the large religious establishments sought clear titles in perpetuity, waiver of taxes, and immunity from government inspection of the shōen they held. Those people who worked the land found it advantageous to transfer title to shōen holders in return for a share of the harvest. People and lands were increasingly beyond central control and taxation,

9170-422: The eastern part was renamed East Garden ( 東御苑 , Higashi-Gyoen ) and became a public park in 1968. Interior images of the Meiji-era palace The present Imperial Palace encompasses the retrenchments of the former Edo Castle. The modern Kyūden ( 宮殿 ) designed for various imperial court functions and receptions is located in the old Nishinomaru section of the palace grounds. On a much more modest scale,

9301-465: The elimination of the powerful Fujiwara family, which sheltered his rebellious brother Yoshitsune. Three years later, he was appointed shōgun in Kyoto. One year before his death in 1199, Yoritomo expelled the teenaged emperor Go-Toba from the throne. Two of Go-Toba's sons succeeded him, but they would also be removed by Yoritomo's successors to the shogunate. The Heian period saw the rise of two esoteric Buddhist sects, Tendai and Shingon . Tendai

9432-433: The emperor's position temporarily, soon they and other Chinese-style structures were bypassed in the developing state. In 838 the end of the imperial-sanctioned missions to Tang China, which had begun in 630, marked the effective end of Chinese influence. Tang China was in a state of decline, and Chinese Buddhists were severely persecuted, undermining Japanese respect for Chinese institutions. Japan began to turn inward. As

9563-409: The emperors and established the shogunate in Kamakura. When Emperor Kammu moved the capital to Heian-kyō ( Kyoto ), which remained the imperial capital for the next 1,000 years, he did so not only to strengthen imperial authority but also to improve his seat of government geopolitically. Nara was abandoned after only 70 years in part due to the ascendancy of Dōkyō and the encroaching secular power of

9694-469: The end of the 9th century, making the political situation unstable. The Japanese missions to Tang China were suspended and the influx of Chinese exports halted, a fact which facilitated the independent growth of Japanese culture called kokufu bunka  [ ja ] . Therefore, the Heian Period is considered a high point in Japanese culture that later generations have always admired. The period

9825-442: The end, the Fujiwara were destroyed, the old system of government supplanted, and the insei system left powerless as bushi took control of court affairs, marking a turning point in Japanese history. In 1159, the Taira and Minamoto clashed ( Heiji Rebellion ), and a twenty-year period of Taira ascendancy began. Taira no Kiyomori emerged as the real power in Japan following the Fujiwara's destruction, and he would remain in command for

9956-536: The events involving the forty-seven rōnin . After the capitulation of the shogunate in 1867, the inhabitants and shōgun had to vacate the premises. The castle compound was renamed Tokyo Castle ( 東京城 , Tōkei-jō ) in October, 1868, and then renamed Imperial Castle ( 皇城 , Kōjō ) in 1869. In the year Meiji 2 (1868), on the 23rd day of the 10th month of the Japanese calendar the emperor moved to Tokyo and Edo castle became an imperial palace. A fire consumed

10087-408: The foot of the castle hill was originally planted in 1636 by Kobori Enshu , a famed landscape artist and garden designer, but it was destroyed by fire in 1867. The current layout was created in 1968, based on a plan drawn up during the reign of ninth shogun, Tokugawa Ieshige . The Suwa no Chaya ( 諏訪の茶屋 ) is a teahouse that was located in the Fukiage Garden during the Edo period. It moved to

10218-417: The forehead ( hikimayu ). Women cultivated shiny, black flowing hair and a courtly woman's formal dress included a complex "twelve-layered robe" called jūnihitoe , though the actual number of layers varied. Costumes were determined by office and season, with a woman's robes, in particular, following a system of color combinations representing flowers, plants, and animals specific to a season or month, (see

10349-545: The gardens of the shōgun and his court were constructed around the castle keep in the Honmaru area. It consisted of a series of low-level buildings, connected by corridors and congregating around various gardens, courtyards or lying detached, similar to the structures that can be seen in Nijō Castle in Kyoto today. These structures were used for either residential or governmental purposes such as audiences. The Honmaru Palace

10480-410: The gate. The main keep or tower (known as the tenshu-dai ( 天守台 ) ) was in the northern corner of the Honmaru ward. Kitahanebashi-mon is right next to it and was one of the main gateways to this innermost part. The measurements are 41 meters (135 ft) in width from east to west, 45 meters (148 ft) in length from north to south, and 11 meters (36 ft) in height. The castle once had

10611-508: The granting of the use of lands to aristocrats and religious institutions, the second phase saw the growth of patrimonial "house governments", as in the old clan system. In fact, the form of the old clan system had remained largely intact within the great old centralized government. New institutions were now needed in the face of social, economic, and political changes. The Taihō Code lapsed, its institutions relegated to ceremonial functions. Family administrations now became public institutions. As

10742-407: The great families all led to the gradual decline of Fujiwara power and gave rise to military disturbances in the mid-tenth and eleventh centuries. Members of the Fujiwara, Taira, and Minamoto families—all of whom had descended from the imperial family—attacked one another, claimed control over vast tracts of conquered land, set up rival regimes, and generally upset the peace. The Fujiwara controlled

10873-584: The inner moats are well maintained and used as security check points. In old days, "Ote-mon" was the main gate and the most heavily armed. There were 3 more gates you would go through after "Ote-mon" to reach the Shogun 's residents . Today, "Nishinomaru-mon" is the main entrance to the Palace. However, the twin bridge "Nijubashi" in front of it is more famous than the gate itself, thus the Palace Entrance

11004-420: The keep that survive today were built in preparation for reconstructing the keep, but were never used. Despite this, jidaigeki movies (such as Abarenbō Shōgun ) set in Edo usually depict Edo Castle as having a keep, and substitute Himeji Castle for that purpose. A non-profit "Rebuilding Edo-jo Association" (NPO江戸城再建) was founded in 2004 with the aim of a historically correct reconstruction of at least

11135-478: The large stone walls overlooking to the Hasuike-bori (Lotus-growing moat). Weapons and tools were stored here. During the Edo period, double and triple keeps ( yagura ) were constructed at strategic points on top of the stone wall surrounding the Honmaru . In between each keep, a defense house (called tamon ) was erected for defensive purposes. There were once 15 of these houses in the Honmaru , of which only

11266-466: The main characters. The shōen system enabled the accumulation of wealth by an aristocratic elite; the economic surplus can be linked to the cultural developments of the Heian period and the "pursuit of arts". The major Buddhist temples in Heian-kyō and Nara also made use of the shōen . The establishment of branches rurally and integration of some Shinto shrines within these temple networks reflects

11397-409: The main gates is called masugata (meaning "square"). As noted by Caron, the gate consisted of a square-shaped courtyard or enclosure and a two-story gatehouse which is entered via three roofed kōrai-mon . The watari-yagura-mon was constructed at adjacent angles to each side within the gate. All major gates had large timbers that framed the main entry point and were constructed to impress and proclaim

11528-458: The main keep. In March 2013 Naotaka Kotake, head of the group, said that "The capital city needs a symbolic building", and that the group planned to collect donations and signatures on a petition in the hope of having the tower rebuilt. A reconstruction blueprint had been made based on old documents. The Imperial Household Agency had not indicated whether it would support the project. The residential Honmaru Palace ( 本丸御殿 , honmaru-goten ) and

11659-544: The might of the shogunate. Accounts of how many armed men served at Edo Castle vary. The Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines Rodrigo de Vivero y Velasco gave an eye-witness account in 1608–1609, describing the huge stones that made up the walls and a large number of people at the castle. He claimed to have seen 20,000 servants between the first gate and the shōgun ' s palace. He passed through two ranks of 1,000 soldiers armed with muskets , and by

11790-471: The most powerful family, the Fujiwara governed Japan and determined the general affairs of state, such as succession to the throne. Family and state affairs were thoroughly intermixed, a pattern followed among other families, monasteries, and even the imperial family. Land management became the primary occupation of the aristocracy, not so much because direct control by the imperial family or central government had declined but more from strong family solidarity and

11921-471: The name since the Edo period and is used as the residential area for the Imperial Family . The Fukiage Palace ( 吹上御所 , Fukiage gosho ) , achieved in 1993, was used as the primary residence of Akihito from December 8, 1993, to March 2020. After a period of refurbishment, Naruhito , Masako and Aiko moved in in September 2021. The Fukiage Ōmiya Palace ( 吹上大宮御所 , Fukiage Ōmiya-gosho ) in

12052-493: The next 20 years. He gave his daughter Tokuko in marriage to the young emperor Takakura , who died at only 19, leaving their infant son Antoku to succeed to the throne. Kiyomori filled no less than 50 government posts with his relatives, rebuilt the Inland Sea, and encouraged trade with Song China. He also took aggressive actions to safeguard his power when necessary, including the removal and exile of 45 court officials and

12183-584: The night of 25 May 1945, most structures of the Imperial Palace were destroyed in the Allied firebombing raid on Tokyo . According to the US bomber pilot Richard Lineberger, Emperor's Palace was the target of their special mission on July 29, 1945, and was hit with 2000-pound bombs. In August 1945, in the closing days of the Pacific War, Emperor Hirohito met with his Privy Council and made decisions culminating in

12314-583: The ninth century, military service became part of shōen life. Not only the shōen but also civil and religious institutions formed private guard units to protect themselves. Gradually, the provincial upper class was transformed into a new military elite of samurai . Bushi interests were diverse, cutting across old power structures to form new associations in the tenth century. Mutual interests, family connections, and kinship were consolidated in military groups that became part of family administration. In time, large regional military families formed around members of

12445-551: The northern section was originally the residence of Emperor Showa and Empress Kōjun and was called the Fukiage Palace . After the Emperor's death in 1989, the palace was renamed the Fukiage Ōmiya Palace and was the residence of the Empress Dowager until her death in 2000. It is currently not in use. The palace precincts include the Three Palace Sanctuaries ( 宮中三殿 , Kyūchū-sanden ) . Parts of

12576-497: The old Edo Castle on the night of May 5, 1873. The area around the old keep, which burned in the 1657 Meireki fire , became the site of the new Imperial Palace Castle ( 宮城 , Kyūjō ) , built in 1888. Some Tokugawa-period buildings which were still standing were destroyed to make space for new structures for the imperial government. The imperial palace building itself, however, was constructed in Nishinomaru Ward, not in

12707-401: The old pond left from the Edo period. Only the Hyakunin-bansho and Dōshin-bansho are still standing. The dōshin-bansho ( 同心番所 ) is a guardhouse. A big guardhouse was within the Ōte-mon where today's security is. The passageway proceeding west from the guardhouse becomes narrower within the stone walls on both sides. The dōshin-bansho is on the right side past this passageway. This

12838-471: The outer Nishinomaru . The mansions were large and very elaborate, with no expenses spared to construct palaces with Japanese gardens and multiple gates. Each block had four to six of the mansions, which were surrounded by ditches for drainage. Daimyōs with lesser wealth were allowed to set up their houses, called banchō , to the north and west of the castle. To the east and south of the castle were sections that were set aside for merchants, since this area

12969-495: The provinces was tenuous at best, however. In the ninth and tenth centuries, much authority was lost to the great families, who disregarded the Chinese-style land and tax systems imposed by the government in Kyoto. Stability came to Japan, but, even though succession was ensured for the imperial family through heredity, power again concentrated in the hands of one noble family, the Fujiwara. Following Kammu's death in 806 and

13100-582: The public, except for reserved guided tours from Tuesdays to Saturdays (which access only the Kyūden Totei Plaza in front of the Chowaden). Each New Year (January 2) and Emperor's Birthday (February 23), the public is permitted to enter through the Nakamon (inner gate) where they gather in the Kyūden Totei Plaza. The Imperial Family appears on the balcony before the crowd and the Emperor normally gives

13231-592: The ramparts survive to this day. This area is bordered by either the sea or the Kanda River, allowing ships access. Various fires over the centuries damaged or destroyed parts of the castle, Edo and the majority of its buildings being made of timber. On April 21, 1701, in the Great Pine Corridor ( Matsu no Ōrōka ) of Edo Castle, Asano Takumi-no-kami drew his short sword and attempted to kill Kira Kōzuke-no-suke for insulting him. This triggered

13362-472: The razing of two troublesome temples, Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji. The Taira were seduced by court life and ignored problems in the provinces, where the Minamoto clan were rebuilding their strength. In 1183, two years after Kiyomori's death, Yoritomo Minamoto dispatched his brothers Yoshitsune and Noriyori to attack Kyoto. The Taira were routed and forced to flee, and the Empress Dowager tried to drown herself and

13493-419: The residential spaces used traditional tatami mats. The main audience hall was the central part of the palace. It was the largest building in the compound. Guests were received there for public events. The floor space was more than 223 tsubo or approximately 737.25 m (7,935.7 sq ft). In the interior, the coffered ceiling was traditional Japanese-style, while the floor was parquetry. The roof

13624-627: The same location as the shōgun ' s palace in Honmaru Ward. The site suffered substantial damage during World War II and in the destruction of Tokyo in 1945. Today the site is part of the Tokyo Imperial Palace . The government declared the area an historic site and has undertaken steps to restore and preserve the remaining structures of Edo Castle. The plan of Edo Castle was not only large but elaborate. The grounds were divided into various wards , or citadels. The Honmaru

13755-525: The sea could be seen from here, therefore its name. At the foot of the Shiomi-zaka on the eastern side of the Honmaru lies the Ninomaru ( 二の丸 , second enceinte) of Edo Castle. A palace for the heirs of the Tokugawa shōguns was constructed in 1639 in the west area (Western Perimeter) and in 1630 it is reported that a garden designed by Kobori Enshū , who was the founder of Japanese landscaping,

13886-514: The second gate he was escorted by 400 armed men. He passed stables that apparently had room for 200 horses and an armory that stored enough weapons for 100,000 men. The Honmaru ( 本丸 , also spelled Hommaru ) was the central, innermost part of the castle containing the keep and residence of the shōgun . The stately and luxurious main buildings of the Honmaru , consisting of the outer, central, and inner halls, were said to have covered an area of 33,000 square meters (360,000 sq ft) during

14017-614: The shogunate. The entry of the warrior class into court influence was a result of the Hōgen Rebellion . At this time Taira no Kiyomori revived the Fujiwara practices by placing his grandson on the throne to rule Japan by regency. Their clan, the Taira , would not be overthrown until after the Genpei War , which marked the start of the Kamakura shogunate . The Kamakura period began in 1185 when Minamoto no Yoritomo seized power from

14148-785: The site of the old Edo Castle . After the capitulation of the shogunate and the Meiji Restoration , the inhabitants, including the Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu , were required to vacate the premises of the Edo Castle . Leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace on 26 November 1868, the Emperor arrived at the Edo Castle, made it to his new residence and renamed it to Tōkei Castle ( 東京城 , Tōkei-jō ) . At this time, Tōkyō had also been called Tōkei. He left for Kyōto again, and after coming back on 9 May 1869, it

14279-421: The size and number of the stones depended on the wealth of the daimyō s. The wealthier ones had to contribute more. Those who did not supply stones were required to contribute labor for such tasks as digging the large moats and flattening hills. The earth that was taken from the moats was used as landfill for sea-reclamation or to level the ground. Thus the construction of Edo Castle laid the foundation for parts of

14410-442: The surface, the real power was in the hands of the Fujiwara clan , a powerful aristocratic family who had intermarried with the imperial family . Many emperors had mothers from the Fujiwara family. The economy mostly existed through barter and trade, while the shōen system enabled the accumulation of wealth by an aristocratic elite. Even though the Heian period was one of national peace, the government failed to effectively police

14541-504: The territory, leading to frequent robberies of travellers. The Heian period was preceded by the Nara period and began in 794 AD after the movement of the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto), by the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu . Kammu first tried to move the capital to Nagaoka-kyō , but a series of disasters befell the city, prompting the emperor to relocate the capital a second time, to Heian. A rebellion occurred in China toward

14672-447: The throne until the reign of Emperor Go-Sanjō (1068–1073), the first emperor not born of a Fujiwara mother since the ninth century. Go-Sanjo, determined to restore imperial control through strong personal rule, implemented reforms to curb Fujiwara influence. He also established an office to compile and validate estate records with the aim of reasserting central control. Many shōen were not properly certified, and large landholders, like

14803-471: The time had not indicated whether it would support the project. In the Meiji period , most structures from the Edo Castle disappeared. Some were cleared to make way for other buildings, while others were destroyed by earthquakes and fire. For example, the wooden double bridges ( 二重橋 , Nijūbashi ) over the moat were replaced with stone and iron bridges. The buildings of the Imperial Palace constructed in

14934-429: The title of Sei-i Taishōgun in 1603, and Edo became the center of Tokugawa's administration. Initially, parts of the area were lying under water. The sea reached the present Nishinomaru area of Edo Castle, and Hibiya was a beach. The landscape was changed for the construction of the castle. Most construction started in 1593 and was completed in 1636 under Ieyasu's grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu . By this time, Edo had

15065-538: The today's Archives and Mausolea Department building. It is said that Ōta Dōkan planted several hundred plum trees in 1478 in dedication to Sugawara no Michizane . Dōkan is said to have built the Sanno-Gongendō here, where two shrines were when the Tokugawa clan occupied the site. With the erection of the Honmaru of Edo Castle, the shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane was moved to Kojimachi Hirakawa-chō and later became known as Hirakawa Shrine . Sanno Shrine

15196-430: The upper steel bridge of Nijūbashi ) and Tatsumi-nijyu-yagura (at the corner of Kikyō-bori moat next to Kikyō-mon gate). It is also called the "all-front-sided" keep because all sides look the same from all directions. It is believed that once Mount Fuji could be seen from this keep, hence the name. Since the main keep of Edo Castle was destroyed in 1657 and not reconstructed, the Fujimi-yagura took on its role and

15327-407: The wall was a deep drop to the moat below, making the area secure. The Fujimi-yagura ( 富士見櫓 , "Mount Fuji-viewing keep ") stands in the south-eastern corner of the Honmaru enceinte and is three storeys high. Fujimi-yagura is one of only three remaining keeps of the inner citadel of Edo Castle, from a total number of originally eleven. The other remaining keeps are Fushimi-yagura (next to

15458-479: Was a key part of social interaction. Almost as important was the choice of calligraphy, or handwriting, used. The Japanese of this period believed handwriting could reflect the condition of a person's soul: therefore, poor or hasty writing could be considered a sign of poor breeding. Whether the script was Chinese or Japanese, good writing and artistic skill were paramount to social reputation when it came to poetry. Sei Shōnagon mentions in her Pillow Book that when

15589-544: Was an important building after being constructed in 1659 during the Edo period. About 150–160 meters (490–520 ft) north of the Fujimi-yagura is the former site of the Matsu no Ōrōka corridor, scene of dramatic events in 1701 that led to the forty-seven rōnin incident. The Fujimi-tamon ( 富士見多聞 ) defense house is about 120–130 meters (390–430 ft) north from the Matsu no Ōrōka . This defense house sits on top of

15720-403: Was considered unsuitable for residences. The entertainment district Yoshiwara was also there. Edo Castle was protected by multiple large and small wooden gates ( mon ), constructed in-between the gaps of the stone wall. There were 36 major gates . Not many are left on the outer moats , because they were a traffic hazard. Since the central quarter is now Tokyo Imperial Palace , some gates on

15851-471: Was first moved to Momijiyama of Edo Castle and became its tutelary shrine but was moved again. Today it is known as Hie Shrine . Hirakawa-mon ( 平川門 ) is said to have been the main gate to the Sannomaru of Edo Castle. It is also said to have been the side gate for maidservants and therefore called the Otsubone-mon . The shape of this gate is in the masugata , similar to the Ōte-mon . However

15982-421: Was founded in 2004 with the aim of a historically correct reconstruction of at least the main donjon. In March 2013, Naotaka Kotake, head of the group, said that "the capital city needs a symbolic building", and that the group planned to collect donations and signatures on a petition in support of rebuilding the tower. A reconstruction blueprint had been made based on old documents. The Imperial Household Agency at

16113-472: Was in the center, with the Ninomaru (second compound), Sannomaru (third compound) extending to the east; the Nishinomaru (west compound) flanked by Nishinomaru-shita (outer section) and Fukiage (firebreak compound); and the Kitanomaru (north compound). The different wards were divided by moats and large stone walls, on which various keeps , defense houses and towers were built. To the east, beyond

16244-405: Was one story high, and consisted of three sections: Various fires destroyed the Honmaru Palace over time and was rebuilt after each fire. In the span from 1844 to 1863, Honmaru experienced three fires. After each fire, the shōgun moved to the Nishinomaru residences for the time being until reconstruction was complete. However, in 1853 both the Honmaru and Nishinomaru burned down, forcing

16375-538: Was renamed to Imperial Castle ( 皇城 , Kōjō ) . Previous fires had destroyed the Honmaru area containing the old donjon (which itself burned in the 1657 Meireki fire ). On the night of 5 May 1873, a fire consumed the Nishinomaru Palace (formerly the shōgun's residence), and the new imperial Palace Castle ( 宮城 , Kyūjō ) was constructed on the site in 1888. The castle has many gardens. A non-profit "Rebuilding Edo-jo Association" ( NPO法人 江戸城再建 )

16506-522: Was severely damaged twice, in 1703 and 1855 , by strong earthquakes, and reconstructed to stand until the Meiji era. Several repairs were conducted after the Meiji era, but the damage caused by the September 1923 Great Kantō earthquake lead to the dismantling of the watari-yagura (渡り櫓) and rebuilding of the stone walls on each side of the gate in 1925. The watari-yagura was burnt down completely during World War II on April 30, 1945. Restoration took place from October 1965 through March 1967, to repair

16637-662: Was styled similarly to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but was covered with (fireproof) copper plates rather than Japanese cypress shingles. In the late Taishō and early Shōwa period, more concrete buildings were added, such as the headquarters of the Imperial Household Ministry and the Privy Council . These structures exhibited only token Japanese elements. From 1888 to 1948, the compound was called Palace Castle ( 宮城 , Kyūjō ) . On

16768-574: Was surrounded by moats on all sides. To the north separating Honmaru from the Kitanomaru were the Inui-bori and Hirakawa-bori , to the east separating the Ninomaru was the Hakuchō-bori , and to the west and south separating the Nishinomaru were the Hasuike-bori and Hamaguri-bori . Most of these still exist, although the Hakuchō-bori has partly been filled in since the Meiji era. Kitahanebashi- mon ( 北桔橋門 , "Northern Drawbridge Gate")

16899-516: Was the main gate of the castle. During the reign of the second Tokugawa shōgun Hidetada , the castle underwent repairs in the 1620s and the gate is said to have taken its present form at this time, with the help of Date Masamune , lord of Sendai Castle, and Soma Toshitane , lord of Nakamura Castle. A fire in Edo destroyed the Ōte-mon in January 1657, but was reconstructed in November 1658. It

17030-443: Was to its south-east. Several fires destroyed whatever stood here and it was not reconstructed. Aside from the Honmaru palace, the Ninomaru was surrounded by 7 keeps, 8 defense houses, approximately 10 gates and other guardhouses. The Tenjin-bori separates a part of the Ninomaru to the Sannomaru . Several renovations were carried out over the years until the Meiji era. A completely new garden has been laid out since then around

17161-597: Was uniquely Japanese. Hiragana gave written expression to the spoken word and, with it, to the rise in Japan's famous vernacular literature, much of it written by court women who had not been trained in Chinese as had their male counterparts. Three late-tenth-century and early-11th-century women presented their views of life and romance at the Heian court in Kagerō Nikki by "the mother of Fujiwara Michitsuna ", The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon and The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu . Indigenous art also flourished under

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