Gonzales_Tokugawa_Project

=The Tokugawa Period and Expansion of Travel:= The Tokugawa period and expansion of travel mainly concists of the five main waterways and highways that lead common peoples and the daimyo into Edo.People used these highways to visit sacred places, stop at tea houses, visit shrines, and get to were they were needed depending of their importance. People of importance were the Daimyo, coolies when they were working, samuri, and merchants.

This woodblock printing is called Nihonbashi.The bridge that is seen in the center of the print was the starting point of the Tokaido highway.The daimyo traveled alot along the highways. He had two houses, one was in Edo were his family stayed and the other was his domain were he payed his respects. He traveled to one house and stayed for a year and then he would go to the other. All of his expensis caused him to decrease in wealth. (Referance: Ando Hiroshige Tokaido Hoeido Edition).

This woodblock printing was named Shinagawa.Shinagawa was the first station on the highway.Tea houses, restraunts, and entertaingment quarters were on this road as seen in the picture. Many travelers stoped alont this road especially when it was the first road along the highway. This road most lakely was buissy all of the time, making it more complicated to walk around. (Referance:Ando Hiroshige Tokaido Hoeido Edition).

The picture seen below is called the Omiya also refered to as (grand shine).One of the largest shrines is seen, the Korigawa shrine, located on one of the 5 main highways and waterways. This highway is called the Kisokaido. Inns were built around the grand shrine for daimyos and their troops that accompanied them. (Referance:Ando Hiroshige The Sixty Nine Stations Of The Kisokaido).





This woodblock printing was based on the image of a town called Kuragano. The Tone river, the karasu river, and the Kabura river were the three rivers that surrounded the town. This river also led to Edo. As you can see that in the picture it looked like a pieceful town. Many people may have even stoped there to take in the sight of the lake.

This picture really captures my interest because it is well-known as the "snow scene of Itahana" of Eisen.It is called Itabana. Images of horse-headed cannon, the guardian god of horses, and the travellers guardian deity, are propped along the highway. The river flows with an abundance of clear water. If i were a merchant during the Edo period i would have defenatley stoped in this town. It wouldn't surprise me if this place were extremely popular.

This picture is called Karuizawa. In Shinshu Karuizawa was the first post town to develope. After travellers passed the Usui Pass (about 1180 miles above sea level), they would rest here. Karuizawa being the first post town to develope would have been very over crowded i would imagine. Especially when samuri or the daimyo needed a place to rest after such a long journey.