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| Nijo Castle |
This castle in Kyoto was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603, as a second residence in Kyoto. It is famous for its nightingale floors in the Ninomaru Palace, which has nails underneath the floorboards that scrape against each other when any pressure is put on them, making noises like nightingales to protect against intruders.
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| Ninomaru Palace |
When the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, the castle was used as an imperial palace for a short period of time before becoming a historic site open to the public and arguably, the palace buildings of this castle are the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of the feudal era.
While the architecture draws the biggest crowd of visitors, the pond gardens, designed by Korobi Enshu, should not be overlooked.
The Castle has a gorgeous interior that displays Edo era art and the power of the Shogun however pictures are not permitted inside the castle. This site is an excellent choice for seeing how the Shogun lived when he was in Kyoto.
For Social Studies teachers Nijo Castle relates to the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum Outcomes:
"Values and Attitudes
The Castle has a gorgeous interior that displays Edo era art and the power of the Shogun however pictures are not permitted inside the castle. This site is an excellent choice for seeing how the Shogun lived when he was in Kyoto.
For Social Studies teachers Nijo Castle relates to the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum Outcomes:
"Values and Attitudes
8.1.2 appreciate how a society’s worldview can foster the
choice to remain an isolated society
8.1.3 appreciate how models of governance and decision
making reflect a society’s worldview
8.1.5 analyze the effects of cultural isolation during the
Edo period by exploring and reflecting
upon the following questions and issues:
• In what ways did
Japan isolate itself from the rest of the world?
• How did isolation
during the Edo period lead to changes in Japan?
• How did the changes
resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Edo period?
• How did the shogun
use the feudal system and the hierarchical social classes to maintain
control of Japan?
8.1.6 analyze the effects that rapid adaptation had on
traditionally isolated Japan during the
Meiji period by exploring and reflecting upon the following
questions and issues:
• How
did Japan adapt to changes brought on by the transition from feudal to modern
models
of organization?
• How did the changes
resulting from adaptation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Meiji period?
• In what ways did
changes resulting from isolation in the Edo period compare to changes
resulting from adaptation in the Meiji period?
• What challenges
emerged for the Japanese in maintaining traditional cultural aspects of their
society while undergoing rapid change? "(From the Grade 8 Social Studies Program of Studies)
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| Nijo Castle's pond gardens |
Websites: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3918.html, http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/japan/kyoto/nijo.php, http://www.raubacapeu.net/people/yves/pictures/1998/11/kyoto-199811-09.jpg
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Comment on what you could learn related to what you have studied about Edo and Meiji Japan.
Comment on what you could learn related to what you have studied about Edo and Meiji Japan.
