This article is about the ancient roads in Japan. For the type of boat (Chinese: 街渡), see kai-to. For the Estonian given name, see Kaido (given name). For the sumo wrestler, see Kaidō Yasuhiro.
Kaidō (街道, 'road') were roads in Japan dating from the Edo period. They played important roles in transportation like the Appian Way of ancient Roman roads. Major examples include the Edo Five Routes, all of which started at Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Minor examples include sub-routes such as the Hokuriku Kaidō and the Nagasaki Kaidō.
Kaidō, however, do not include San'yōdō, San'indō, Nankaidō and Saikaidō, which were part of the even more ancient system of Yamato government called Gokishichidō. These names were used for administrative units, and the roads within these units.
Many highways and railway lines in modern Japan follow the ancient routes and carry the same names. The early roads radiated from the capital at Nara or Kyoto. Later, Edo was the reference, and even today Japan reckons directions and measures distances along its highways from Nihonbashi in Chūō, Tokyo.
At various times, the government established post stations (shukuba) along the roads. These had lodgings for travelers and grew as commercial centers. These former post towns, along with castle and harbor towns, form a major category of cities in Japan.
Cultural referencesedit
Kaidō figure prominently in Japanese culture. The poet Matsuo Bashō memorialized his travels along the Ōshū Kaidō (and elsewhere) in the book Oku no Hosomichi. A set of woodblock prints by Hiroshige forms a travelogue of the Tōkaidō. Daimyō, making the required sankin-kōtai trip between their han and Edo, also traveled along the kaidō and stayed at post stations. Some woodblock prints show their stately processions. The Bunraku play Kanadehon Chūshingura, the fictionalized account of the true story of the Forty-seven Ronin, has several scenes set along various kaidō.
kaidō, this, article, about, ancient, roads, japan, type, boat, chinese, 街渡, estonian, given, name, kaido, given, name, sumo, wrestler, yasuhiro, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, un. This article is about the ancient roads in Japan For the type of boat Chinese 街渡 see kai to For the Estonian given name see Kaido given name For the sumo wrestler see Kaidō Yasuhiro This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Kaidō news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kaidō 街道 road were roads in Japan dating from the Edo period They played important roles in transportation like the Appian Way of ancient Roman roads Major examples include the Edo Five Routes all of which started at Edo modern day Tokyo Minor examples include sub routes such as the Hokuriku Kaidō and the Nagasaki Kaidō Section of Tōkaidō near HakoneKamakura Kaidō in old time atmosphereKaidō however do not include San yōdō San indō Nankaidō and Saikaidō which were part of the even more ancient system of Yamato government called Gokishichidō These names were used for administrative units and the roads within these units Many highways and railway lines in modern Japan follow the ancient routes and carry the same names The early roads radiated from the capital at Nara or Kyoto Later Edo was the reference and even today Japan reckons directions and measures distances along its highways from Nihonbashi in Chuō Tokyo Gokaidō editMain article Edo Five Routes The five main kaidō from Nihonbashi in Edo were Tōkaidō 東海道 to Kyoto along the coastline Nakasendō 中山道 to Kyoto through the mountains Kōshu Kaidō 甲州街道 to Kōfu Ōshu Kaidō 奥州街道 to Shirakawa and other places of northern Japan Nikkō Kaidō 日光街道 to NikkōLodgings editAt various times the government established post stations shukuba along the roads These had lodgings for travelers and grew as commercial centers These former post towns along with castle and harbor towns form a major category of cities in Japan Cultural references editKaidō figure prominently in Japanese culture The poet Matsuo Bashō memorialized his travels along the Ōshu Kaidō and elsewhere in the book Oku no Hosomichi A set of woodblock prints by Hiroshige forms a travelogue of the Tōkaidō Daimyō making the required sankin kōtai trip between their han and Edo also traveled along the kaidō and stayed at post stations Some woodblock prints show their stately processions The Bunraku play Kanadehon Chushingura the fictionalized account of the true story of the Forty seven Ronin has several scenes set along various kaidō nbsp Map of Kumano Kodō ancient pilgrimage routes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaidō amp oldid 1131471857, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
