Chōsenjin Kaidō
Encyclopedia
The was a travel route
during the Edo period
in Ōmi Province
, Japan
. It received its name because it was used about 12 times by representatives of the Joseon (朝鮮) Dynasty
in modern-day Korea
during the Joseon missions to Japan
. It was also called the Hikone Road (彦根道 Hikone-michi), the Kyō Road (京道 Kyō-michi) and the Hachiman Road (八幡道 Hachiman-michi).
Oridinally it was built by Oda Nobunaga
to join Azuchi Castle
to Kyoto
. After the Battle of Sekigahara
, Tokugawa Ieyasu
used it for going to Kyoto, so it was considered as an auspicious road. It served as a sub-route of the Nakasendō
, connecting Toriimoto-juku
with Yasu village (between Musa-juku
and Moriyama-juku
). At 41 km (25 mi), the route only skipped over three other post stations
. Staying closer to Lake Biwa
, the route went through the present day municipalities of Hikone
, Azuchi
, Ōmihachiman
and Yasu
in Shiga Prefecture
.
Jeoson representatives had luncheon at Omihachiman and stayed at Hikone. They left traces of their stay such as handwritings and portraits at the temples in Omihachiman and Hikone.
Kaido
were ancient roads in Japan dating from the Edo period. Major examples include the Edo Five Routes, all of which started at Edo...
during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
in Ōmi Province
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It received its name because it was used about 12 times by representatives of the Joseon (朝鮮) Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
in modern-day Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
during the Joseon missions to Japan
Joseon missions to Japan
Joseon missions to Japan represent a crucial aspect of the international relations of mutual Joseon-Japanese contacts and communication. In sum, these serial diplomatic ventures illustrate the persistence of Joseon's kyorin diplomacy from 1392 to 1910.The chronology of one side in a bilateral...
. It was also called the Hikone Road (彦根道 Hikone-michi), the Kyō Road (京道 Kyō-michi) and the Hachiman Road (八幡道 Hachiman-michi).
Oridinally it was built by Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
to join Azuchi Castle
Azuchi Castle
' was one of the primary castles of Oda Nobunaga. It was built from 1576 to 1579, on the shores of Lake Biwa, in Ōmi Province. Nobunaga intentionally built it close enough to Kyoto that he could watch over and guard the approaches to the capital, but, being outside the city, his fortress would be...
to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. After the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
, Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
used it for going to Kyoto, so it was considered as an auspicious road. It served as a sub-route of the Nakasendō
Nakasendo
The , also called the , was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo to Kyoto in Japan. There were 69 stations between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces...
, connecting Toriimoto-juku
Toriimoto-juku
was the sixty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the north of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.Even today, there are remnants of the former post town around. If you enter from the north, you pass by a pine colonnade that leads to the still-standing buildings...
with Yasu village (between Musa-juku
Musa-juku
was the sixty-sixth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the city of Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Other kanji used to write "Musa" included 牟佐 and 身狭, but 武佐 became the official kanji in the Edo period. Parts of the old post town still remain today, including the...
and Moriyama-juku
Moriyama-juku
was the sixty-seventh of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō. It is located in the present-day city of Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
). At 41 km (25 mi), the route only skipped over three other post stations
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
. Staying closer to Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa
is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture , northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Because of its proximity to the ancient capital, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles.-...
, the route went through the present day municipalities of Hikone
Hikone, Shiga
is a city located in Shiga, Japan. The city was incorporated on February 11, 1937.Hikone's most famous historical site is Hikone Castle. Its construction was begun in 1603, by Ii Naokatsu, son of the former lord, Ii Naomasa, but was not completed until 1622...
, Azuchi
Azuchi, Shiga
was a town located in Gamō District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,217 and a density of 502.76 persons per km². The total area was 24.30 km²....
, Ōmihachiman
Omihachiman, Shiga
is a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954. In the quinquennial census of 2010, it had a population of 81,730...
and Yasu
Yasu, Shiga
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was formed on October 1, 2004, by the merger of the towns of Yasu and Chūzu; in doing so, the former Yasu District was dissolved....
in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
.
Jeoson representatives had luncheon at Omihachiman and stayed at Hikone. They left traces of their stay such as handwritings and portraits at the temples in Omihachiman and Hikone.