Changes

[[File:Edo-model-rekihaku.jpg|right|thumb|450px|A model of a commoner section of Edo, with the fire watchtower visible at right]]

[[File:Edo-model-rekihaku.jpg|right|thumb|450px|A model of a commoner section of Edo, with the fire watchtower visible at right]]

The city was organized around [[Edo castle]], more formally known as Chiyoda castle, which had been the chief headquarters of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] since [[1590]]. The city overall was organized roughly in a spiral, and in accordance with traditional geomancy. Thirty-six ''masugata'' (square enclosure) gates<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', University of California Press (1996), 132.</ref> controlled access to the city, and different segments of society were restricted, to some extent, to different parts of the city. Sections of the northeastern part of the city were inhabited by shogunal vassals, while many lower-ranking samurai lived in a different area. Parts of the southwestern section of the city were merchant and artisan districts, divided into over 300 ''chô'' or ''machi'' within which townspeople (''[[chonin|chônin]]'') were organized, to a certain extent, according to their trades.<ref>Lu, David. ''Japan: A Documentary History''. vol. 1. M.E. Sharpe, 2005. p215.</ref> Many of these ''chô'' were ''ryô-gawa machi'', or "both-sides towns," meaning that a single ''chô'' encompassed a certain number of structures on both sides of a main street. Individual properties generally ran about 40 meters back from the street, encompassing storefronts facing the streets, and behind them, homes, storehouses, communal wells, and garbage and toilet facilities. Each ''chô'' typically included a gate and gatehouse (''kidoban''), a guard house (''jishinban''), and pipes from the central aqueduct for fresh water, along with a sewer system. Roughly one in ten ''chô'' had a watchtower, 10 ''ken'' (18.5m) tall, to help guard against fires; each guardhouse also had a lookout constructed on its roof.<ref>Gallery labels, "Fire Tower," National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9649097525/in/dateposted-public/]</ref> Many other buildings, meanwhile, had large buckets on the roof which collected rainwater which could then be used to put out fires. The gates of each neighborhood were closed at night by a gatekeeper hired by the ''chô''; the guardhouse, meanwhile, was manned by one local resident of the ''chô'' and by a professional guardman, who between the two of them oversaw local ''chô'' administration and security.<ref>Gallery labels, [[Edo-Tokyo Museum]].</ref>

The city was organized around [[Edo castle]], more formally known as Chiyoda castle, which had been the chief headquarters of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] since [[1590]]. The city overall was organized roughly in a spiral, and in accordance with traditional geomancy. Thirty-six ''masugata'' (square enclosure) gates<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', University of California Press (1996), 132.</ref> controlled access to the city, and different segments of society were restricted, to some extent, to different parts of the city. Sections of the northeastern part of the city were inhabited by shogunal vassals, while many lower-ranking samurai lived in a different area. Parts of the southwestern section of the city were merchant and artisan districts, divided into over 300 ''chô'' or ''machi'' within which townspeople (''[[chonin|chônin]]'') were organized, to a certain extent, according to their trades.<ref>Lu, David. ''Japan: A Documentary History''. vol. 1. M.E. Sharpe, 2005. p215.</ref> Many of these ''chô'' were ''ryô-gawa machi'', or "both-sides towns," meaning that a single ''chô'' encompassed a certain number of structures on both sides of a main street. Individual properties generally ran about 40 meters back from the street, encompassing storefronts facing the streets, and behind them, homes, storehouses, communal wells, and garbage and toilet facilities. Each ''chô'' typically included a gate and gatehouse (''kidoban''), a guard house (''jishinban''), and pipes from the central aqueduct for fresh water, along with a sewer system. Roughly one in ten ''chô'' had a watchtower, 10 ''ken'' (18.5m) tall, to help guard against fires; each guardhouse also had a lookout constructed on its roof.<ref>Gallery labels, "Fire Tower," National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9649097525/in/dateposted-public/]</ref> Many other buildings, meanwhile, had large buckets on the roof which collected rainwater which could then be used to put out fires. The gates of each neighborhood were closed at night by a gatekeeper hired by the ''chô''; the guardhouse, meanwhile, was manned by one local resident of the ''chô'' and by a professional guardman, who between the two of them oversaw local ''chô'' administration and security.<ref>Gallery labels, [[Edo-Tokyo Museum]].</ref>

The [[Sumidagawa]] (Sumida River) ran along the eastern edge of the city, dividing [[Musashi province]], in which the city sat, from [[Shimousa province]]. The [[Ryogoku Bridge|Ryôgoku Bridge]]<ref>Ryôgoku 両国 literally meaning "both provinces."</ref> took its name from its location spanning the river and connecting these two provinces. Sections of the river were lined with the official storehouses of the shogunate, storing especially goods (mainly rice) collected as taxes, and giving that neighborhood the name Kuramae ("before the storehouses"), a placename which remains in use today.

The [[Sumidagawa]] (Sumida River) ran along the eastern edge of the city, dividing [[Musashi province]], in which the city sat, from [[Shimousa province]]. The [[Ryogoku Bridge|Ryôgoku Bridge]]<ref>Ryôgoku 両国 literally meaning "both provinces."</ref> took its name from its location spanning the river and connecting these two provinces. Sections of the river were lined with the official storehouses of the shogunate, storing especially goods (mainly rice) collected as taxes, and giving that neighborhood the name Kuramae ("before the storehouses"), a placename which remains in use today.