Essay Sample on Edo Castle 17th - 21th Century

This article examines the socio-political importance of Edo castle and its symbolic significance during the historical Edo period from the 17th to the 19th century. Japan at this time was ruled by the emperor with backing from the military. Society was traditionally divided into a social pyramid of various distinct classes with rulers at the top and commoners at the bottom. Edo castle was the home of the social elite during the period and projected the divine power of the royal family. Japan had isolated itself from the rest of the civilized world; meaning the distinctive architecture of the Castle served as a node for the center of the universe within the scope of Japanese society at the time. The castle was also designed with practicality in mind, with fortified walls of the castle meant it could be effectively defended. It is virtually as if the rulers acknowledged their power could be taken by force and so designed accordingly. This creates an interesting dichotomy in which the royal family was able to project both fear and profound admiration. In a poetic sense the political significance of Edo castle seems to have faded with the end of the period it’s named after.

Edo castle adequately served as the center of the world within Japanese society during this period. The population was isolated and so the historic castle of Edo served as the conscious perception of considerable progress. “ Edo grew rapidly around the new castle, and by the beginning of the eighteenth century 16 The legacy of the Tokugawa period was probably the largest city in the world with a population of over a million people.'' Edo Castle's commanding presence naturally brought significant growth and economic development in the area around it. Sort of like a seed spreading its roots, buildings and local businesses grew around the castle. It is notable also that Edo castle was made to be taller than the buildings around it, almost as if the rest of the city served as its foundation. In that regard the significance of Edo transcended the social hierarchy. Edo castle was the center of the city which in itself served as the center of all social classes. Peasants traded in the streets, samurais kept the peace and the royal family governed. All individuals of the social pyramid could point to Edo as the source of their craft. Japan’s isolationism at this period meant Edo was the only city existing on such an extensive scale. Such a dense population center naturally became a hub for culture. Edo city served as a forefront in cultural development. A leisure-middle class would come to exist within the city. People with free time would naturally start seeking entertainment and knowledge. Art would invariably start taking hold with unique music and art styles. Zenga , an ink- based painting method, came into considerable popularity in Edo and still serves as a staple of Japanese culture to this day. Edo castle in a sense served as a proper foundation for cultural growth within Japan, providing the economic conditions that allowed for further expression. Social, economic and political life in Edo Japan all revolved around the creation of Edo castle, on the isolated island the city was truly the center of the universe.

The castle, of course, projected the power and authority of the governing class. The extensive scale of the castle stood out in the populous city. Edo castle was home to the Emperor and noble family, who comfortably held ultimate power. The castle was a node to the emperor's continuous existence and uncompromising stance within society. What is genuinely interesting is how the precise location of the  came to interact with the at the to a unconscious presence.  “At issue was the vestigial assumption that rulers should be in the north, looking southwards. For an ordinary person, looking southwards on a superior – or even on their own dwelling – felt improper, even psychologically threatening. A castle in the center meant that about a third of the city could not be comfortably inhabited because it was improper to look south on it. When the castle’s inhabitant was the shogun, and when warfare stabilized into enduring peace, such a state of the air would not do” (Screech 233). There almost seems to be a bit of psychological warfare going on. The commanding presence of the castle wasn't exactly something a person could merely ignore, yet viewing it in the wrong direction was simply improper. An individual would have to be constantly mindful of the castle and as such the emperor. In a sense the historic castle served sort of like a daily reminder of who had the authority. This ingrained a profound sense of reasonable caution into the minds of the local residents. One could walk around the city feeling watched with the constant presence of the castle always within view. This naturally worked to reinforce the civil authority of the emperor, constantly shadowing the city with a sense of authority. This creates an interesting combination of caution and admiration; certainly begs the question, should one be more scared or in awe of the emperor's castle?

Despite the constant authority the castle imposed, one could say the castle also represented caution on the emperor's part. The Edo period was predominantly a peaceful time with minimum political conflicts, however occasionally conflict broke out. Edo castle was intentionally designed to be easily defended. Although these defenses were conventionally never used, the emperor was acutely aware of groups that would work to dispose of him. One notable case was the Shimabara Rebellion. During this time only a few ports were opened to foreign traders , Shimabara being one of these places present with dutch and Portuguese traders. Catholicism from Portuguese missionaries had influenced a small number of local peasants. These peasants often felt mistreated or oppressed under the current rule. An increase in taxes was the last straw which caused an uprising in the region, this was believed to have been encouraged by portuguese traders. This local rebellion wasn’t an enormous threat and was soundly defeated where it had started, thousands of miles from Edo or the emperor's castles. Though the rebellion was short, it did highlight some possible holes in the civil authority of the emperor. The military was what preserved the emperor in power, it’s ability to enforce and defend. Peasants could be swayed by their pockets or even scarier foreign religions. In this sense Edo castle naturally had to serve both a practical and symbolic importance. Edo castle’s projection of social status and civil authority needed to be backed up with a symbol of military might and resolve. The towering walls and fortifications of the palace do seem to have achieved this aim well. The castles in Edo Japan are quite interesting, noble houses are not only built within stone walls but on top of them as well; this offers a favourable view of the surrounding area. The castle is also surrounded by moats which would obviously slow down potential attackers. With the walls of the castle there were garrisons, some with thousands of soldiers. Massive gates and walls around the castle often lead to Edo castle being called a city within a city. As time moved on and military technology changed Edo castle's defenses would become obsolete; this directly leads to it serving more of a symbolic role than any defense related one. 

Edo castle would go into decline with the end of the Edo period. Advancements in technology brought more efficient means of building and more advanced forms of architecture. Expansion to the outside world brought with it new ideas and nations. The scope of the world started opening up. Improvements to military technology meant the defense of Edo Castle wasn't really practical. Edo castle became less and less imposing to the general public, instead taking more of a symbolic meaning towards nationalism. The power of the Emperor coincided with the decline of Edo castle's significance, and the military started to take a greater share of political power. “By the 1920s, however, the military effectively assumed cultural hegemony over the symbolic representation of the monarchy. As suggested by the photographic album of 1928, Edo castle was revived as an emblem of the ‘warrior culture’, the ‘spirit of feudalism’ that was an essential feature of the Japanese nation (Vitale 1)”. Japan as a nation began evolving. The isolationism that was embraced during the Edo period and symbolized by Edo castle, was gradually rejected in favor of expansion. The original symbolic intent of the Edo castle changed with the political climate of the time. Edo castle served as a point of nationalism and pride; the castle was a node to the old ways of warrior kings and fighting spirits. In somewhat of a disturbing fashion Edo castle was used as a symbol of fascism. Edo castle and other pieces of architecture served as a node to expand Japanese culture around the world. After the war Edo castle became more of a historical site, many of which disappeared over the century. Edo castle no longer serves any major political purpose, the nation became a democracy and so political power is more spread out. The current royal family still lives there as a node to it's past legacy of greatness.

Edo castle's role in the sociopolitical development of Japan can not be understated. Its construction served as the center for art and culture to spread. The symbolic importance it played was key to the long-term stability and progress of the nation. Today Edo castle serves as a cultural landmark. Somewhat ironically the roof of the castle which used to stick out into the sky above all other buildings is surrounded by several skyscrapers in the heart of Tokyo. The once center of the universe now stands as a reminder of perceptions of the past.