The Square in the Feudal Settlements of the Edo Periodin the Case of the City Sakai (Report I)

Abstract

These are studies on the Squares in Sakai in order to inquire into how the Squares exist and function in the Feudal Settlements of the Edo Period.
In this study (Report I), the author takes a birds eye view of the physical pattern of the city in which the Squares exist and the system of self-government by which the Squares are sprouted in the beginning, and second, tries to inquire into how the Squares exist and function.
They are as follows:
1. The physical characteristic of the city is adapted for bringing about the Squares comparatively.
2. The development of the self-government system composed of Gonin-gumi, machi, suji and Go, brings about many meeting places and these are important causes and effects of existence of Squares.
3. The city Sakai has various Squares. These are two nucleus squares which are the central core of the each two Go, and some quasi-nucleus and local squares.