sankin-kōtai

E85461

Sankin-kōtai was a system in feudal Japan that required regional lords (daimyō) to alternate residence between their domains and the shogun’s capital, reinforcing central control and political stability.


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Edo period institution
alternate attendance system
political system
alsoKnownAs alternate attendance
appliesTo daimyō
feudal lords
associatedWith Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
capitalUsed Edo
shogun’s capital
country Japan
domainOf Japanese political history
feudal governance
effect contributed to internal peace
contributed to the development of a national culture
encouraged commercialization of the economy
expanded use of major highways
financially burdened daimyō
increased cultural exchange between regions
increased demand for lodging and services along travel routes
increased presence of samurai in Edo
promoted urban growth in Edo
reduced military capacity of domains
stimulated travel and transportation infrastructure
strengthened Tokugawa authority
endTime Meiji Restoration
late 19th century
governs relations between shogun and daimyō
historicalPeriod Edo period
implementedBy Tokugawa shogunate
influenced development of the Tōkaidō road
formation of Edo as a major metropolis
languageOfName Japanese
legalForm bakufu regulation
purpose control regional autonomy
maintain political stability
prevent rebellion by daimyō
reinforce central control
regulates obligations of daimyō to the shogun
residence of daimyō
travel of daimyō
requires alternate residence between domain and Edo
keeping family members in Edo as hostages
large processions of retainers during travel
maintenance of residences in Edo
regular journeys to Edo
startTime 17th century
early Edo period

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Tokugawa shogunate implemented sankin-kōtai
Edo period policyJapanese sankin-kōtai