The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the Edo shogunate, was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868.
Kan'ei (寛永) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, "year name") after Genna and before Shōhō. This period spanned the years from February 1624 through December 1644.
Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694）
Yes, in a way, we can say that Miyamoto Musashi’s travels (late 16th to early 17th century) took place in a landscape that was, relatively speaking, more untouched by infrastructure development compared to Matsuo Bashō’s era.
During Musashi’s lifetime (1584–1645), Japan was transitioning from the turbulent Sengoku period (Warring States) to the more stable Tokugawa rule. Roads and infrastructure were still developing, and much of the travel was through untamed landscapes, forests, and mountains, with fewer structured post towns. His journeys as a rōnin (masterless samurai) would have taken him through a more rugged and wild Japan, where nature was still largely in its pre-modern state.
By the time of Bashō (1644–1694), Japan had entered the Edo period’s early stability under Tokugawa rule. The Kan’ei era (1624–1644) had already seen improvements in transportation, including the development of the Gokaidō (Five Routes) connecting Edo to the rest of the country. Bashō’s travels, while still arduous and often through remote areas, were more structured, with established post stations, regulated travel, and a more systematized network of roads.
So, while Musashi likely encountered a more “untarnished” natural environment, Bashō’s travel experiences were shaped by a Japan that had already begun organizing its pathways—though he deliberately sought the rugged, poetic solitude of the road. Interestingly, this contrast also reflects the difference in their pursuits: Musashi’s travels were driven by the ethos of the wandering swordsman, testing his skill in duels and deepening his understanding of strategy, whereas Bashō’s journeys were poetic, contemplative, and literary, seeking the fleeting beauty of impermanence (mono no aware).
When did the Five Roads System (gokaido) start and finish in Edo Period? （ChatGPT, 2025-2-22)
The Five Routes System (Gokaidō, 五街道) officially began in 1601, shortly after Tokugawa Ieyasu’s victory at the Battle of Sekigahara (1600). The Tokugawa shogunate established these roads to consolidate control, facilitate military movement, and support economic and administrative efficiency.
The construction and formalization of the Gokaidō lasted throughout the early Edo period, with significant improvements made in the Kan’ei era (1624–1644) and continuing into the late 17th century. While the core routes were set by the early 1600s, the system was continually maintained and expanded.
The Gokaidō remained Japan’s primary transportation network throughout the Edo period (1603–1868) and functioned until the Meiji Restoration (1868). With the modernization efforts of the Meiji government, railroads and new infrastructure gradually replaced these traditional highways.
Timeline Summary:
• 1601: Tokugawa Ieyasu begins establishing the Gokaidō.
• 1624–1644 (Kan’ei era): Major improvements to roads, bridges, and checkpoints.
• Throughout the Edo period (1603–1868): Roads are maintained, with strict regulations on travel.
• 1868 (Meiji Restoration): The system declines as modern transportation, including railways, begins replacing the old highways.
So, while the Gokaidō was officially instituted in 1601, its peak development was in the Kan’ei era (1624–1644), and it persisted until the end of the Edo period in 1868.
