Changes

*''Japanese'': 皇居 ''(koukyo)''

*''Japanese'': 皇居 ''(koukyo)''

The Tokyo Imperial Palace, or ''kôkyo'' (lit. "Imperial residence"), completed in [[1888]], is the seat of the [[Emperor of Japan]]. Located on the former grounds of the [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shoguns']] [[Edo castle]] at the center of [[Tokyo]], the palace compound includes imperial residences, meeting rooms, administrative offices, and ritual spaces, as well as several extensive private gardens and public parks, archives, and the Museum of the Imperial Collections, or ''[[Sannomaru Shozokan|Sannomaru Shôzôkan]]''. While the former sites of the ''honmaru'', ''ninomaru'', and ''sannomaru'' of Edo castle are today mostly empty, the palace buildings being located elsewhere in the compound, a number of other buildings from the time of the shoguns either survive or have been rebuilt, along with many of the compound's gates, and much of the foundational stone castle walls.

The Tokyo Imperial Palace, or ''kôkyo'' (lit. "Imperial residence"), completed in [[1888]], is the seat of the [[Emperor of Japan]]. Located on the former grounds of the [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shoguns']] [[Edo castle]] at the center of [[Tokyo]], the palace compound includes imperial residences, meeting rooms, administrative offices, and ritual spaces, as well as several extensive private gardens and public parks, archives, and the Museum of the Imperial Collections, or ''[[Sannomaru Shozokan|Sannomaru Shôzôkan]]''. While the former sites of the ''honmaru'', ''ni-no-maru'', and ''sannomaru'' of Edo castle are today mostly empty, the palace buildings being located chiefly in the former ''nishi-no-maru'' area of the compound,<ref>Yamamoto Hirofumi, ''Edo jidai - shôgun bushi tachi no jitsuzô'', Tokyo Shoseki (2008), 66.</ref> a number of other buildings from the time of the shoguns either survive or have been rebuilt, along with many of the compound's gates, and much of the foundational stone castle walls.

==History==

==History==

===Meiji Period===

===Meiji Period===

Much of the buildings in the ''honmaru'', ''ni-no-maru'', and ''nishi-no-maru'' areas of Edo castle were destroyed in a series of fires in [[1863]]. The shogunate hastily threw up some replacement buildings in the ''nishi-no-maru'', which later became the temporary residence of the [[Meiji Emperor]] in [[1869]] to [[1873]]; however, nothing was ever rebuilt of the ''Honmaru'' Palace.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', University of California Press (1996), 40.</ref> A fire destroyed the palace on May 5, 1873, beginning in the Momijiyama section of the compound, and rampaging through the ''nishi-no-maru'' and other areas in a matter of hours. The Emperor, Empress, and [[Imperial Household Ministry]] relocated to the [[Kishu Tokugawa Edo mansion|mansion of the Kishû Tokugawa clan]], just outside the moats, that same day, designating the mansion the Akasaka Temporary Palace.<ref>Fujitani, 40, 66-67.</ref>

Much of the buildings in the ''honmaru'', ''ni-no-maru'', and ''nishi-no-maru'' areas of Edo castle were destroyed in a series of fires in [[1863]]. The shogunate hastily threw up some replacement buildings in the ''nishi-no-maru'', which later became the temporary residence of the [[Meiji Emperor]] in [[1869]] to [[1873]]; however, nothing was ever rebuilt of the ''Honmaru'' Palace.<ref>Fujitani, 40.</ref> A fire destroyed the palace on May 5, 1873, beginning in the Momijiyama section of the compound, and rampaging through the ''nishi-no-maru'' and other areas in a matter of hours. The Emperor, Empress, and [[Imperial Household Ministry]] relocated to the [[Kishu Tokugawa Edo mansion|mansion of the Kishû Tokugawa clan]], just outside the moats, that same day, designating the mansion the Akasaka Temporary Palace.<ref>Fujitani, 40, 66-67.</ref>

Reconstruction of the palace was delayed numerous times, both due to financial concerns given the newness of the Meiji state and [[Meiji government|government]], and due to debates over the style and material the new palace should be built in.<ref>Fujitani, 67.</ref> Construction was finally begun in [[1884]], and completed in [[1888]], with the Imperial family taking up residence early the following year. According to numerous sources of the time, [[Tokyo]] was only an ''[[anzaisho]]'', a temporary base for a Court in motion, until that time, with the 1888 structure being the first in Tokyo to be called ''kyûjô'' (宮城, "Imperial Palace") rather than merely terms such as ''kôkyo'' ("imperial residence"), and with Tokyo's status as the sole Imperial capital (''teito'') ongoing until that time.<ref>Fujitani, 36-37, 44-45.</ref> Further, Imperial communications, among other documents from the time, suggest that until the 1880s, the Imperial Palace was seen as less a national symbol, and more a mere residence. Historian [[Takashi Fujitani]] goes so far as to suggest that up until [[1883]] or so, there may not have been even a single urban planning proposal which featured an Imperial Palace at the center of the new capital.<ref>Fujitani, 71.</ref>

Reconstruction of the palace was delayed numerous times, both due to financial concerns given the newness of the Meiji state and [[Meiji government|government]], and due to debates over the style and material the new palace should be built in.<ref>Fujitani, 67.</ref> Construction was finally begun in [[1884]], and completed in [[1888]], with the Imperial family taking up residence early the following year. According to numerous sources of the time, [[Tokyo]] was only an ''[[anzaisho]]'', a temporary base for a Court in motion, until that time, with the 1888 structure being the first in Tokyo to be called ''kyûjô'' (宮城, "Imperial Palace") rather than merely terms such as ''kôkyo'' ("imperial residence"), and with Tokyo's status as the sole Imperial capital (''teito'') ongoing until that time.<ref>Fujitani, 36-37, 44-45.</ref> Further, Imperial communications, among other documents from the time, suggest that until the 1880s, the Imperial Palace was seen as less a national symbol, and more a mere residence. Historian [[Takashi Fujitani]] goes so far as to suggest that up until [[1883]] or so, there may not have been even a single urban planning proposal which featured an Imperial Palace at the center of the new capital.<ref>Fujitani, 71.</ref>

By 1883, however, there had begun to be a significant shift in attitudes or perspective among the Meiji elites, who now began to look towards developing Tokyo into a modern, national(ist) capital, impressive and symbolically powerful like those of the European nations. A petition to [[Prince Arisugawa Taruhito]] written that year by [[Kawaji Kando|Kawaji Kandô]] is representative of the new view on this subject, expressing the need for an "eternal and immutable palace in Tokyo," which would reflect the majesty of the emperor and of the nation to all those who saw it, including foreign dignitaries and Japanese officials and [[kazoku|nobility]]. In the petition, Kawaji also emphasizes that while the "temporary court" model was appropriate in ancient times when material culture (''bunbutsu'') was undeveloped, in this new modern period, Japan not only could, but should employ its modern architectural resources and technologies to build something demonstrative of those abilities.<ref>Fujitani, 68-69. Kawaji was the grandson of [[Kawaji Toshiakira]], who oversaw the reconstruction of the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace]] in the 1850s.</ref>

By 1883, however, there had begun to be a significant shift in attitudes or perspective among the Meiji elites, who now began to look towards developing Tokyo into a modern, national(ist) capital, impressive and symbolically powerful like those of the European nations. A petition to Imperial Prince [[Arisugawa Taruhito]] written that year by [[Kawaji Kando|Kawaji Kandô]] is representative of the new view on this subject, expressing the need for an "eternal and immutable palace in Tokyo," which would reflect the majesty of the emperor and of the nation to all those who saw it, including foreign dignitaries and Japanese officials and [[kazoku|nobility]]. In the petition, Kawaji also emphasizes that while the "temporary court" model was appropriate in ancient times when material culture (''bunbutsu'') was undeveloped, in this new modern period, Japan not only could, but should employ its modern architectural resources and technologies to build something demonstrative of those abilities.<ref>Fujitani, 68-69. Kawaji was the grandson of [[Kawaji Toshiakira]], who oversaw the reconstruction of the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace]] in the 1850s.</ref>

As construction neared completion, the Imperial Household commissioned numerous artists, textile producers, and the like, including [[Iida Shinshichi III]] of [[Takashimaya]] and [[Kawashima Jinbei II]], in [[1887]], to produce works for decorating the palace.<ref>Ellen Conant, "Cut from Kyoto Cloth: Takeuchi Seihô and his Artistic Milieu," ''Impressions'' 33 (2012), 75.</ref>  

As construction neared completion, the Imperial Household commissioned numerous artists, textile producers, and the like, including [[Iida Shinshichi III]] of [[Takashimaya]] and [[Kawashima Jinbei II]], in [[1887]], to produce works for decorating the palace.<ref>Ellen Conant, "Cut from Kyoto Cloth: Takeuchi Seihô and his Artistic Milieu," ''Impressions'' 33 (2012), 75.</ref>  

==Grounds==

==Grounds==

===Inner Palace===

===Inner Palace===

The inner palace buildings, closed to the public, include the imperial residences, official State Meeting Halls, administrative offices, and shrines such as the ''kashikodokoro'', where a variety of Imperial rituals are performed.

The inner palace buildings, closed to the public, include the imperial residences, official State Meeting Halls, administrative offices, and a set of three shrines where a variety of Imperial rituals are performed.

The famous ''Nijûbashi'', a short bridge built in the German Renaissance style, and one of the more iconic sights on the publicly-accessible portions of the grounds, leads directly to the Main Gate (''Seimon'') into the non-public areas of the palace. The bridge, and the gate, are themselves off-limits as well, but are easily visible from the main public plaza known as Imperial Palace Outer Garden (''kôkyo gaien'') or simply Plaza in front of the Imperial Palace (''kôkyo mae hiroba''). This plaza had previously been the ''nishi-no-maru shita'' (Lower Western Bailey) of Edo castle, and had been the location of a number of residences of high-ranking shogunate officials. In the first decade or so of the Meiji period, it became home to the Senate (''[[Genroin|Genrôin]]''), the Peers' Club, the [[Naimusho|Home Ministry]] Library, and the private residence of [[Iwakura Tomomi]]. By [[1888]], however, this was all cleared away to make a broad open plaza, where people could gather to see the palace (and to be seen by the Emperor), and where various Imperial/national(ist) ceremonies and events could take place.<ref>Fujitani, 79-81.</ref>

The three shrines, known as the ''kyûchû sanden'', and referred to collectively as the Palace Sanctuary by historian [[Takashi Fujitani]], include the ''kashikodokoro'', ''shinden'', and ''kôreiden''. Only the first of these, in which a replica of the Sacred Mirror ''[[Yata no kagami]]'' is held and the [[Amaterasu|Sun Goddess]] worshipped, existed in the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The ''shinden'', dedicated to the myriad deities of heaven and earth, and the ''kôreiden'', enshrining over 2,200 Imperial ancestors, were newly created in [[1869]] and [[1871]] respectively, albeit very much in forms emulating the appearance of ancient traditions. All three shrines were re-established and invested with their requisite spirits in the newly completed Imperial Palace on [[1889]]/1/9, two days before the emperor and empress took up residence in the palace.<ref>Fujitani, 160.</ref>

A ''dôjô'' known as Seineikan (清寧館) located just within the off-limits areas, across the path from the ''Sannomaru Shôzôkan''.

A ''dôjô'' known as Seineikan (清寧館) located just within the off-limits areas, across the path from the ''Sannomaru Shôzôkan''.

===Gardens===

===Gardens===

The former ''honmaru'', ''ni-no-maru'', and ''san-no-maru'' areas of the castle today constitute the Imperial Palace East Gardens (''higashi gyoen'') and are generally open to the public, along with the Kitanomaru Park. The latter contains within it the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art's Crafts Hall (''Tôkyô kokuritsu kindai bijitsukan kôgeikan''), and the Nippon Budokan, a major public sports arena and concert venue.

The former ''honmaru'', ''ni-no-maru'', and ''san-no-maru'' areas of the castle today constitute the Imperial Palace East Gardens (''higashi gyoen'') and are generally open to the public, along with the Kitanomaru Park. The latter contains within it the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art's Crafts Hall (''Tôkyô kokuritsu kindai bijitsukan kôgeikan''), and the Nippon Budokan, a major public sports arena and concert venue.

The East Gardens feature a number of Edo period buildings (or their reconstructions), including the Fujimi yagura (the only three-story corner watchtower in the compound), Fujimi-tamon (a ''nagaya''-style defensive structure), an ''ishimuro'' stone storehouse, the foundation platform of the ''tenshu'' (keep tower) which burned down in [[1657]] and was never replaced, the [[Suwa no chaya]] teahouse, and several guardhouses (''bansho''), as well as the Ninomaru Gardens designed by [[Kobori Enshu|Kobori Enshû]], the ''Sannomaru Shôzôkan'', and the Tôkagakudô (Tôka Music Hall), constructed in 1966 for the Empress Kôjun's 60th birthday. One area of the gardens contains trees representative of each of Japan's 47 [[prefectures of Japan|prefectures]].

The East Gardens feature a number of Edo period buildings (or their reconstructions), including the Fujimi yagura (the only three-story corner watchtower in the compound), Fujimi-tamon (a ''nagaya''-style defensive structure), an ''ishimuro'' stone storehouse, the foundation platform of the ''tenshu'' (keep tower) which burned down in [[1657]] and was never replaced, the [[Suwa no chaya]] teahouse, and several guardhouses (''bansho''), as well as the Ninomaru Gardens designed by [[Kobori Enshu|Kobori Enshû]], the ''Sannomaru Shôzôkan'', and the Tôkagakudô (Tôka Music Hall), constructed in 1966 for the Empress Kôjun's 60th birthday. One area of the gardens contains trees representative of each of Japan's 47 [[prefectures of Japan|prefectures]].

{{stub}}

{{stub}}

==References==

==References==

*Plaques on-site.

*Plaques on-site.

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Meiji Period]]

[[Category:Meiji Period]]

[[Category:Historic Buildings]]

[[Category:Historic Buildings]]