Edo's four great dojos

…Town dojos flourished all over the country, and interest in martial arts education grew, playing an important role in educating the common people. In Edo in particular, the three great dojos of Hokushin Itto-ryu's Chiba Shusaku at Kanda Otamagaike (Genbukan), Shinto Munen-ryu's Saito Yakuro at Kudanshita (Renpeikan), and Kagami Shin Akechi-ryu's Momoi Haruzo at Minami Hacchobori Otomi-cho Asari-gashi (Shigakukan) were called the “Three Great Dojos of Edo.” In addition, the dojo of Shinkage-ryu's Iba Gunbei at Shitaya Okachimachi was added, and they were called the “Four Great Dojos of Edo.” They were well-known and flourished. Many people who played an active role from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji Restoration, such as Watanabe Kazan, Fujita Toko, Amano Hachiro, Katsura Kogoro, Sakamoto Ryoma, Kondo Isami, and Hijikata Toshizo, entered and learned from town dojos. …

*Some of the terminology used to refer to the "Four Great Edo Dojos" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…全国各地に町道場が栄え，武芸教育の関心が高まり，庶民教育に大きな役割を果たした。とくに江戸では，北辰一刀流千葉周作の神田お玉ヶ池〈玄武館〉，神道無念流斎藤弥九郎の九段下〈練兵館〉，鏡新明智流桃井（もものい）春蔵の南八丁堀大富町蜊（あさり）河岸〈士学館〉を〈江戸三大道場〉，さらに心形刀流伊庭軍兵衛の下谷御徒町の道場を加えて〈江戸四大道場〉と呼び，その名も高く隆盛をきわめた。渡辺崋山，藤田東湖，天野八郎，桂小五郎，坂本竜馬，近藤勇，土方歳三など，幕末から明治維新にかけて活躍した人々が数多く町道場に入門して学んでいる。…

※「江戸四大道場」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報