Nguyen_Tokugawa_Period

=Travel During The Tokugawa Period= The Tokugawa period was a time of social, economic, and cultural change. In 1603, the Tokugawa clan emerged as the pre-eminent political family in Japan. The Tokugawa ruled from 1603 to 1868, a period known as the Great Peace. The first shogun made a new capital in Edo, the Tokugawa family's traditional domain. The Tokugawa government required the daimyo to travel to Edo every other year to pay tribute to the shogun. So they would stay a year in their domain and the other year in Edo. This led to the growth of travel during the Tokugawa period.



The Tokugawa government came up with a tactic called "alternative attendance." It's where the daimyo's wife and children were required to stay in Edo full time. This tactic was like an insurance policy to guarantee good behavior. Back then, family was really important in society. Therefore there was no use in overthrowing the shogun if there was no family to pass the position on to. Additionally, alternative attendence helped keep the peace and control the daimyo's power and money. This tactic made it so that it was unlikely for the daimyos to unite with other daimyos to go against the Tokugawa government. It depleted the daimyos' wealth to maintain two households and to travel to and from Edo.



Since the daimyo and their attendants were continuously traveling back and forth from Edo, a network of highways and waterways were needed to link the main cities of Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as smaller cities and towns together. The Tokugawa government maintained five major highways, such as the Tokaido road. The Tokaido road had 53 stations.



As the daimyo processions traveled along the roads and highways, they often stopped to rest and eat at teahouses, restaurants, and inns. In doing so, the daimyo processions helped the growth of local markets and places specializing in cuisine, arts, and crafts. Travelers would bring information, souvenirs, and artwork from their domains to Edo. Likewise, they would do the same thing on their journeys home (spreading information, souvenirs, and artwork from Edo to their domains).



Towards the middle and end of the Tokugawa period, common people also started to travel the roads linking the countryside and cities. People moved along the roads from the countryside to the capital because there was a demand for skilled craftspeople, builders, and courtesans to give services to the daimyo and their attendants in Edo. Goods produced from the countryside, like agriculture would move along the roads into the cities to be put up for sale. Also, common people traveled to visit shrines and other places of religious importance.



Increase in travel during the Tokugawa period led to the creation of a more connected and coordinated culture and society. Back then, many people were secluded from society and mainly stayed in their villages. Travelling gave those people the chance to explore and socialize with other travelers. Additionally, travel changed how news was spread. News on changes in cities were spread by travelers. Travelling gave the people of Japan a sense of connection with their society. The expansion of travel during the Tokugawa period led to a more integrated society.

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