Kaido
Kaidō ( Japanese 街道 , German “road” or 海道 , German “sea route”, suffix ) describes a travel route from historical times in Japan .
The first streets were laid out according to the Chinese model as early as the Asuka period . This system was known as Gokishichidō ("Five Provinces of Kinai and Seven Streets"). The point of reference was the capital, first Asuka-kyō ( Asuka ), then Heijō-kyō ( Nara ), then Heian-kyō ( Kyōto ). The roads were supposed to facilitate campaigns, enable effective administration, and promote trade. The highways also served as the names of the outer provinces.
- Tōkaidō ( 東海 道 )
- Tōsandō ( 東山 道 )
- Hokurikudō ( 北 陸 道 )
- San'indō ( 山 陰道 )
- San'yōdō ( 山陽 道 )
- Nankaidō ( 南海 道 )
- Saikaidō ( 西海 道 )
In the Edo period the established Tokugawa - shogunate new roads, the so-called five roads ( Edo Five Routes ). The five streets are in detail:
- Tōkaidō ( 東海 道 ): coastal road from Edo to Kyōto
- Nakasendō ( 中山 道 ): Mountain road from Edo to Kyōto
- Kōshū Kaidō ( 甲 州 街道 ): from Edo to Kōfu in Kōshū
- Ōshū Kaidō ( 奥 州 街道 ): from Edo to Shirakawa in Ōshū
- Nikkō Kaidō ( 日光 街道 ): from Edo to Nikkō
In the Edo period, the streets gained in importance, as the system of sankin kōtai forced the daimyō to travel regularly to Edo with large entourage. Hostels ( 本 陣 honjin ) and castles emerged along the streets , which became the nucleus for settlements and cities.
Even today, railway lines and highways follow the course of the Kaidō. Tōkaidō is now the name of National Road 1 , which connects Tokyo and Osaka . The Hakone checkpoint was of particular importance as it separated the country into the Kantō and Kansai regions . In order to enable an effective control of the travel traffic it was forbidden to bypass the checkpoints on the way from one province to the next. Harsh punishments such as crucifixion were threatened if violated.
The art of the Edo period thematizes the journeys on the great streets in pictures and poems. The poet Matsuo Bashō , best known for his haiku, dedicated the book Oku no Hosomichi to his journey on the Ōshū Kaidō .