Changes

Kyoto saw much violence and destruction over the centuries, both from wars and battles, as well as from natural disasters. Various rebellions of the late Heian period, along with significant elements of the Genpei War of the 12th century and [[Nanboku-cho|Nanboku-chô Wars]] of the 14th century, took place in Kyoto. However, the city saw the worst destruction it would ever suffer in war during the [[Onin War|Ônin War]] (1467-77), which took place primarily in the city's streets. Many of the homes of the city's [[samurai]] and ''[[kuge]]'' were transformed into fortresses; wood, bamboo, and earthworks were used to construct walls and other defenses, and the streets themselves were torn up to form ditches and trenches. The city would not be fully rebuilt and recovered for several decades afterwards.

Kyoto saw much violence and destruction over the centuries, both from wars and battles, as well as from natural disasters. Various rebellions of the late Heian period, along with significant elements of the Genpei War of the 12th century and [[Nanboku-cho|Nanboku-chô Wars]] of the 14th century, took place in Kyoto. However, the city saw the worst destruction it would ever suffer in war during the [[Onin War|Ônin War]] (1467-77), which took place primarily in the city's streets. Many of the homes of the city's [[samurai]] and ''[[kuge]]'' were transformed into fortresses; wood, bamboo, and earthworks were used to construct walls and other defenses, and the streets themselves were torn up to form ditches and trenches. The city would not be fully rebuilt and recovered for several decades afterwards.

Along with [[Edo]] and [[Osaka]], Kyoto was one of the archipelago's three primary centers of commerce and urban commoner culture during the Edo period. Boasting a sizeable population of roughly 200,000 by the end of the 16th century, Kyoto's population nearly doubled to roughly 350,000-400,000 over the course of the Edo period.<ref name=moriya/> ''[[Ukiyo-e]]'', [[kabuki]], ''[[joruri|jôruri]]'' (puppet theatre), and various new forms of literature, along with the various arts and entertainments of the pleasure districts, thrived alongside older, more traditional arts, many of them developing into distinct forms and styles exclusive to Kyoto, reflecting a decidedly more reserved, traditional, and slower pace and lifestyle than their Edo and Osaka cousins.

Along with [[Edo]] and [[Osaka]], Kyoto was one of the archipelago's three primary centers of commerce and urban commoner culture during the Edo period. Not a part of any daimyô's [[han|domain]], Kyoto was governed by a shogunate official called the ''[[Kyoto shoshidai]]'', who oversaw the city's administrative affairs on behalf of the shogunate. Boasting a sizeable population of roughly 200,000 by the end of the 16th century, Kyoto's population nearly doubled to roughly 350,000-400,000 over the course of the Edo period.<ref name=moriya/> ''[[Ukiyo-e]]'', [[kabuki]], ''[[joruri|jôruri]]'' (puppet theatre), and various new forms of literature, along with the various arts and entertainments of the pleasure districts, thrived alongside older, more traditional arts, many of them developing into distinct forms and styles exclusive to Kyoto, reflecting a decidedly more reserved, traditional, and slower pace and lifestyle than their Edo and Osaka cousins.

As always a major religious center, Tokugawa era Kyoto boasted seven or eight thousand [[Buddhist temples]] and [[Shinto shrines]], the city being therefore home to tens of thousands of Shinto priests and Buddhist monks and nuns.<ref name=moriya/>

As always a major religious center, Tokugawa era Kyoto boasted seven or eight thousand [[Buddhist temples]] and [[Shinto shrines]], the city being therefore home to tens of thousands of Shinto priests and Buddhist monks and nuns.<ref name=moriya/>