Shogunke Edo Junkou-zu

1697. MANUSCRIPT MAP. Shogunke Edo Junkou-zu. Coloured manuscript map scroll. 17 x 830 cm, housed in a new chitsu case. [Edo]: n.p., [1697-1774]. This rare and innovative portable strip map scroll provides a street-by-street, turn-by-turn route around central Edo, navigating the intricate layout of Edo's streets as one would encounter them while walking or riding through the city. It has been proposed that this map may have functioned as a city "inspection map" for the Shogun. A practical tool for navigating the densely structured and strategically designed city, its scroll format allows the 27 foot long map to be easily referenced when on the road. The mapped route begins in Asakusa, near the historic Senso-ji temple, before crossing the Sumida River and encircling Edo Castle via Oshiage, Nihonbashi, Shinagawa, Ichigaya, and Yanaka, ultimately returning to Asakusa. Along this approximately 15-mile circuit, the traveler encounters a wealth of urban landmarks: bridges, temples, shrines, theaters, commercial districts and residences, many of which are labeled with the names of their owners, including prominent feudal estates such as those belonging to the Matsudaira clan. Internal evidence suggests a dating between 1697, after the construction of Eidai Bridge and before 1774, prior to the completion of the Azuma Bridge. The map captures a slice of Edo at a time when the city's urban design was deliberately labyrinthine, with its complex network of dead-end streets, alleys, and moated districts strategically constructed to deter direct access to the Shogun's castle. Over the centuries, Tokyo's topography has been dramatically altered by land reclamation projects and the lasting impact of World War II, making this map a valuable resource for visualizing Edo's historical urban layout. As a historical artifact, it holds holds particular significance to understand Edo-period governance, property ownership and cartography; providing a striking view of 18th- century Edo's city plan.