Kyoto

A Walk in Kyoto Imperial Palace - 4

From Giyoden to Shunkoden

Shozo Fujii Dec 10, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Palanquin. Called 'itakoshi' in Japanese</p>

<p>This type of a palanquin was carried at the level of the bearers' waists</p>

<p>Another type of palanquin. When the Emperor needed to move, especially for special imperial visits, this palanquin was used</p>

<p>After the Capital and the Imperial Palace were moved to Tokyo in 1868, Empress Dowager Shoken (the consort of the Emperor Meiji ) also left for Tokyo on Oct. 5 of the following year. It took her 20 days to arrive by palanquin</p>

<p>The Shunkoden was built to house the sacred mirror on the occasion of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Taisho in 1915</p>

<p>Shinkyo means a 'sacred mirror' and Yata no Kagami (Yata Mirror), one of the three imperial regalia of Japan, is also Shinkyo</p>

<p>Move on to Ogosho, walking by the side of the Shunkoden</p>

The Giyoden was one of the palace buildings in the Dairi (Imperial Residence) of Heian-kyo adjoining the east side of the Shishinden.The Giyoden is the treasure store house where musical instruments and succession record books were kept. This building was reproduced according to an ancient design.

The Shunkoden was one of the Imperial Residences where arms were kept. In the Kamakura Era, Shinkyo (Sacred Mirror) was kept in it, and therefore it was called Kashiko-dokoro. The present Shunkoden stands at a different place from where the old Shunkoden stood in the Heian Era. The present Shunkoden was built on the occasion of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Taisho at the spot where Kashiko-dokoro was located

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Shozo Fujii @shozo.fujii

Travel is like a mirror for each of us as we can clearly see the reflection of ourselves on it. Far from your home country, wandering or strolling, are you viewing yourself on the mirror of Japan? I believe and am sure life could be for us to enjoy. So is our travel. Hopefully you woul...