Komachi ÅŒji

Komachi ÅŒji (å°ç”ºå¤§è·¯) is a street in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, that begins at Sujikaebashi (ç‹é•æ©‹) (locality named after a bridge which no longer exists[1]) from the Kanazawa KaidÅ, crosses Yoko ÅŒji, passes in front of HÅkai-ji and Honkaku-ji, crosses the EbisudÅbashi Bridge (see photo), ÅŒmachi ÅŒji and Kuruma ÅŒji, reaches Moto Hachiman and KÅmyÅ-ji, and finally ends in Zaimokuza near Wakaejima.
It is believed this is what the Azuma Kagami calls "Komachi ÅŒji" and other texts "Komachi KÅji".[2][3] It used to be also called Machi KÅji (町å°è·¯).[2] The name seems to stem from the fact that the EbisudÅbashi Bridge has been for centuries the border between the two areas called Komachi and ÅŒmachi,[2] Komachi being the more important of the two. The Azuma Kagami says that along Komachi ÅŒji there were the houses of the powerful (the gokenin) and, for almost the entire Kamakura period, the seat of the government.[3] The entrance of all buildings in Komachi not belonging to the HÅjÅ (the ruling clan) or to the Bakufu (with the curious exception of houses of ill repute) had to face away from Wakamiya ÅŒji (Honkaku-ji is a good example).[3][4]
Notes
References
- Kamakura ShÅkÅ Kaigijo (2008). Kamakura KankÅ Bunka Kentei KÅshiki Tekisutobukku (in Japanese). Kamakura: Kamakura ShunshÅ«sha. ISBN 978-4-7740-0386-3.
- Kamiya, Michinori (2006). Fukaku Aruku - Kamakura Shiseki Sansaku Vol. 1 (in Japanese). Kamakura: Kamakura Shunshūsha. ISBN 4-7740-0340-9.
- Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本æ´å²åœ°å大係), online version. "Wakamiya ÅŒji" (in Japanese). Heibonsha. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
Coordinates: 35°19′1.93″N 139°33′11.93″E / 35.3172028°N 139.5533139°E