GALLERY 3

This display begins with different aspects of the commoner's life during the Edo period. Next, the display highlights the significance of the city in society and shows the distribution of people and merchandise throughout Japan. It also presents some of the modern elements already cultivated by the populace by the end of the shogunate era (Edo period).

Most of the Japanese populace lived in villages. The villages were managed by the farmers (hyakusho) themselves. Local landowners seldom interfered with farmers' activities unless farmers challenged their power.


A view from the entrance	Guidepost marking a pilgrimage path	Scale model of the Toshima family residence, a great landowner's estate
The greatest daily concern of villagers was the steady yield of crops.	People sometimes travelled quite far with the help of these guideposts.	This is an example of a wealthy, influential farmer's estate in a village. Its main structure alone measured about 430 sq. meters.

Warriors, merchants and artisans all resided in cities and towns. Those active in commerce and manufacturing began to create a unique culture beyond the imagination of those in the warrior class.


Scale replica of Edobashi (Edo Bridge) and Hirokoji Street	A corner of the gallery	Chinese trade in Nagasaki
The bridge in the foreground is Nihonbashi (Bridge). The city of Edo, built by its various townspeople and merchants, stretches beyond on the other side of the bridge.	This corner displays the huge shop sign of Echigoya and the game called shussei sugoroku. Shussei sugoroku could be described as a game of life where in a player assumes the role of a townsperson and attempts to win the game by attaining success in life.	Foreign trade during the Edo period often conjures images of Japanese trade with Dutch merchants, but in reality many goods were imported from China.

During the Edo period, people and goods circulated throughout Japan. For many, a pilgrimage to a famous temple or shrine was actually an excuse to enjoy a leisurely tour of recreation. Local products or specialty items were transported and sold throughout the country.


The Mogami River freight transportation system and the shipment of safflower (benibana)	A view of the gallery	Kadoya, an inn at Sumoto Village in Ise Province
This is a scale model of a riverboat carrying safflower (benibana) down the Mogami River. At Sakata, the safflower was loaded onto another transport boat destined for Kyoto.	A scale model of the type of ship and various cargo that sailed across the Sea of Japan.	This is the store front for one of the inns which catered to travelers from Kyoto on their way to Ise Shrine.

Toward the end of the Edo period, commoners all over Japan were cultivating new skills in such fields as manufacturing and entertainment, and paving the way for a new era. This display presents some of the variety of cultural phenomena created by forward-looking individuals of the commoner class.


A view of the gallery	A marionette (karakuri doll)	Display of Awa puppet heads
This display shows how silkworm farmers technically revolutionized silk production and how their innovations spread through commerce.	The cogwheel, which was originally invented for silk production, was adapted for use in toys and entertainment.	These heads were created for puppet shows. They were used according to the needs of the performance.

This display shows how documents (monjo) and maps, formerly available only to the ruling elite, became accessible to commoners during the latter half of the Edo period.


A view of the gallery	The work of village leaders	A map by Ino Tadataka
This is a full-scale photograph of a map of Suo (part of present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture) which shows all the villages and major roads.	The importance of keeping records became generally recognized during the latter half of the Edo period.	Ino Tadataka was the first person to produce an accurate map of Japan describing its shorelines and major roads.