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The Ôtemon 大手門 was the main gate leading into the ''honmaru'' (central bailey) of the castle, where the majority of administrative and residential spaces were located. Low- to middle-ranking samurai were obliged to dismount from their horses or palanquins before passing over the bridge leading to this gate. Those granted an exception were known as ''jôyo ijô'' (乗輿以上, lit. "palanquin riders and up"), and included those over 500 ''koku'' in income, and those over fifty years of age. After passing through the Ôtemon, one would cross another bridge, then pass through another series of gates - the Ôtesan-no-mon, Chûnomon, and Chûjakumon - before coming to the entrance hall (''genkan'') of the ''honmaru'' palace. The highest-ranking visitors to the castle, including members of the ''[[Gosanke]]'' and the abbot of [[Nikko|Nikkô's]] [[Rinno-ji|Rinnô-ji]]<ref>A Buddhist temple associated with the Tokugawa's [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]] shrine, its head was typically an Imperial prince.</ref>, were permitted to remain in their palanquins up until the Chûnomon, where they too had to dismount. Beyond each of these two dismounting points, visitors were restricted in the size of entourage they could bring along with them. For example, a ''[[kunimochi]] daimyô'' such as the [[Shimazu clan]] lord of [[Satsuma han]] could only bring with him six samurai retainers, one sandal-bearer, two ''[[hasamibako]]'' (luggage) carriers, and four palanquin carriers past the Ôtemon, and then had to leave three of those samurai retainers, half the luggage carriers (along with the luggage itself), and all of the palanquin carriers (along with the palanquin) at the second dismounting point. Finally, upon reaching the entrance hall (''genkan''), even such a high-ranking ''daimyô'' as this would be forced to enter the castle alone. This was perhaps in part a security measure, but was also a great show of the shogun's power (to be able to require that of even such a powerful lord), and of the ''daimyô's'' acknowledgement of that power & authority, and willing submission to it. Lower-ranking ''daimyô'', as well as other official visitors to the castle, were restricted to even smaller entourages during this brief journey between the Ôtemon and the castle ''genkan''.<ref>Fukai Masaumi, ''Edo-jô wo yomu'', Harashobô (1997), 18-19.</ref>

The Ôtemon 大手門 was the main gate leading into the ''honmaru'' (central bailey) of the castle, where the majority of administrative and residential spaces were located. The Honmaru Goten, or Honmaru Palace, was divided into three sections: the ''omote'' or ''omote-muke'', containing reception rooms, audience halls, and administrative spaces; the ''nakaoku'', which served as the shogun's residence & housed his own personal administrative spaces; and the ''[[ooku|ôoku]]'', which housed the womens' quarters.

 

Low- to middle-ranking samurai were obliged to dismount from their horses or palanquins before passing over the bridge leading to the Ôtemon. Those granted an exception were known as ''jôyo ijô'' (乗輿以上, lit. "palanquin riders and up"), and included those over 500 ''koku'' in income, and those over fifty years of age. After passing through the Ôtemon, one would cross another bridge, then pass through another series of gates - the Ôtesan-no-mon, Chûnomon, and Chûjakumon - before coming to the entrance hall (''genkan'') of the ''honmaru'' palace. The highest-ranking visitors to the castle, including members of the ''[[Gosanke]]'' and the abbot of [[Nikko|Nikkô's]] [[Rinno-ji|Rinnô-ji]]<ref>A Buddhist temple associated with the Tokugawa's [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]] shrine, its head was typically an Imperial prince.</ref>, were permitted to remain in their palanquins up until the Chûnomon, where they too had to dismount. Beyond each of these two dismounting points, visitors were restricted in the size of entourage they could bring along with them. For example, a ''[[kunimochi]] daimyô'' such as the [[Shimazu clan]] lord of [[Satsuma han]] could only bring with him six samurai retainers, one sandal-bearer, two ''[[hasamibako]]'' (luggage) carriers, and four palanquin carriers past the Ôtemon, and then had to leave three of those samurai retainers, half the luggage carriers (along with the luggage itself), and all of the palanquin carriers (along with the palanquin) at the second dismounting point. Finally, upon reaching the entrance hall (''genkan''), even such a high-ranking ''daimyô'' as this would be forced to enter the castle alone. This was perhaps in part a security measure, but was also a great show of the shogun's power (to be able to require that of even such a powerful lord), and of the ''daimyô's'' acknowledgement of that power & authority, and willing submission to it. Lower-ranking ''daimyô'', as well as other official visitors to the castle, were restricted to even smaller entourages during this brief journey between the Ôtemon and the castle ''genkan''.<ref>Fukai Masaumi, ''Edo-jô wo yomu'', Harashobô (1997), 18-19.</ref>

Upon entering the ''genkan'', one would turn left to enter the ''ôhiroma'' (大広間, great audience hall). Consisting of a number of connected rooms roughly 500 tatami mats in area,<ref name=fukai22>Fukai, 22.</ref> in total, the ''ôhiroma''  was among the spaces closest to the entrance to the castle, and thus furthest from the center of the complex. It was used for audiences with foreign emissaries or powerful ''tozama daimyô'', and for other highly formal ceremonies.

Upon entering the ''genkan'', one would turn left to enter the ''ôhiroma'' (大広間, great audience hall). Consisting of a number of connected rooms roughly 500 tatami mats in area,<ref name=fukai22>Fukai, 22.</ref> in total, the ''ôhiroma''  was among the spaces closest to the entrance to the castle, and thus furthest from the center of the complex. It was used for audiences with foreign emissaries or powerful ''tozama daimyô'', and for other highly formal ceremonies.

On occasions such as New Year's, members of the ''gosanke'', ''[[gosankyo|gosankyô]]'', and other shogunal relatives, along with others of the 4th rank and above, waited in various rooms of the castle and met with the shogun in the ''shiroshoin'' one at a time, to offer their New Year's greetings. Following these individual audiences, the shogun would move to the lower ''dan'' (''gedan'') of the ''ôhiroma'', and stand there as ''fusuma'' (sliding doors) were opened, allowing those of rank five and below, gathered in the ''ni-no-ma'', to be seen by the shogun; all those assembled then bowed low, performing their greetings to the shogun all at once.<ref name=fukai22/>

On occasions such as New Year's, members of the ''gosanke'', ''[[gosankyo|gosankyô]]'', and other shogunal relatives, along with others of the 4th rank and above, waited in various rooms of the castle and met with the shogun in the ''shiroshoin'' one at a time, to offer their New Year's greetings. Following these individual audiences, the shogun would move to the lower ''dan'' (''gedan'') of the ''ôhiroma'', and stand there as ''fusuma'' (sliding doors) were opened, allowing those of rank five and below, gathered in the ''ni-no-ma'', to be seen by the shogun; all those assembled then bowed low, performing their greetings to the shogun all at once.<ref name=fukai22/>

Beyond the various audience halls lay the shogun's personal quarters, along with the [[Ooku|Ôoku]].

Beyond the various audience halls lay the shogun's personal quarters, along with the [[Ooku|Ôoku]].

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