Sanyo Expressway

Japanese: 山陽道 - さんようどう

In ancient times, during the Ritsuryo period, this was one of the Goki Shichido (five provinces under the Seven Provinces of Provincial Rule), which were the regional units above the country, and the name of the official road that was established there. Located in the southern part of the Chugoku region, in 734 (Tenpyo 6), the borders of Aki and Suo were established, and Harima, Mimasaka, and Bizen (all of which are considered to be neighboring provinces in the Engishiki), Bitchu, Bingo (all of which are considered to be Chugoku), Aki, Suo, and Nagato (all of which are considered to be distant provinces) were established. The Sanyo Road, the most important ancient road connecting Kyoto and Dazaifu, ran through the Seto Inland Sea side of the area other than Mimasaka, and as a rule 20 to 30 post horses were always on hand. According to the Engishiki, the number of stations was a total of 54. The book, "Jiyujo," lists the shipping fees for all of the provinces along the Sanyo Road, and it is known that the road was closely connected not only to land routes but also to Yodo Port along the Yodo River via the Seto Inland Sea. In the early modern period, the Sanyo Road was called the Saigoku Kaido or Saigokuji.

[Kaneda Akihiro]

[Reference] | Five Provinces and Seven Provinces

Hiroshige Utagawa, Famous Places of the Sixty-odd Provinces, Aki: A Picture of the Itsukushima Festival
The Band Festival at Itsukushima Shrine. 1853 (Kaei 6). Owned by the National Diet Library .

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Aki, Itsukushima"

Hiroshige Utagawa, Famous Places of the Sixty-odd Provinces, Suo, Iwakuni Kintaikyo Bridge
1853 (Kaei 6), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Suo, Iwakuni..."

Hiroshige Utagawa, Famous Places of the Sixty-odd Provinces, Harima, Maiko Beach
1853 (Kaei 6), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Harima, Maiko..."

Hiroshige Utagawa, "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Yamabushi Valley, Mimasaka"
Yoshii River and Jizo Rock. 1853 (Kaei 6), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Bizen: Yamabushi..."

Hiroshige Utagawa, "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Bizen, Tanokuchi Beach, Torii Gate at Yugayama Mountain"
Tanokuchi Beach, Kotoura (now Kojima, Kurashiki City) (Owned by the National Diet Library )

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Bizen, Rice Fields"

Hiroshige Utagawa, Famous Places of the Sixty-odd Provinces, Bitchu, Gokei
1853 (Kaei 6), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa, "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Bitchu, Gokei..."

Hiroshige Utagawa, Famous Places of the Sixty-odd Provinces, Bingo, Abumon Kannondo
Afuto Kannon Hall. 1853 (Kaei 6), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Bingo, Abu..."

Hiroshige Utagawa, Famous Places of the Sixty-odd Provinces, Nagato, Shimonoseki
1856 (Ansei 3), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Nagato, Lower..."

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

古代、律令(りつりょう)期における国の上部の地域単位である五畿(ごき)七道の一つ、およびそこに設定された官道の名称。中国地方の南側にあたり、734年（天平6）に安芸(あき)、周防(すおう)の国境が定められて、播磨(はりま)、美作(みまさか)、備前(びぜん)（『延喜式(えんぎしき)』では以上近国）、備中(びっちゅう)、備後(びんご)（以上中国）、安芸、周防、長門(ながと)（以上遠国）が確定した。美作以外の瀬戸内海側を京と大宰府(だざいふ)を結ぶ古代の最重要路山陽道が貫通し、原則として駅馬20～30疋(ぴき)が常備されていた。駅数は『延喜式』では合計54駅であった。同書「主税上」には山陽道諸国のすべてに海路の船賃を記載しており、陸路のみならず瀬戸内海を通じて淀(よど)川沿いの與等津(よどのつ)とも密接に結び付いていたことが知られる。近世には、山陽道は道路名としては西国街道あるいは西国路と称された。

［金田章裕］

[参照項目] | 五畿七道

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