Double Bridge - Nijyubashi

This is the first iron bridge you cross after entering the main gate of the Imperial Palace today. During the Edo Castle era, a wooden bridge was built here, but because it was quite high above the moat, piers were first erected below and a bridge girder was laid across it, and then another pier was erected above that and a bridge girder was laid across it to create a high bridge. This bridge looked double-layered from the outside, hence the name Nijubashi (double bridge). Construction of the palace began in Nishinomaru in 1883 (Meiji 16), and Nishinomaru Otemon Gate became the main gate of the Imperial Palace. Nijubashi (double bridge), which was called Nishinomaru Gejobashi (lower bridge), was changed to an iron bridge. It was designed by the German Wilhelm Heyse and completed in 1888, but the name Nijubashi (double bridge) remained. The current Nijubashi was rebuilt when the new palace was constructed in 1964 (Showa 39). It is a popular myth that it is called the "Nijubashi" bridge because there is a double-arched stone bridge in front of the main gate of the Imperial Palace and this iron bridge is behind it, and this is incorrect.

[Kudou Yoshiaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

今日の皇居の正門を入ってから最初に渡る鉄製の橋。江戸城のころ、ここには木造橋が架けられていたが、濠(ほり)から架橋の位置がかなり高かったため、下方にまず橋脚を立てて橋桁(はしげた)を渡し、さらにこの上からまた橋脚を立てて橋桁を渡して、高い橋をつくった。この橋は外見上二重にみえたので二重橋の名がおこった。1883年（明治16）から西之丸での宮殿造営が始まり、西之丸大手門が皇居の正門となって、西之丸下乗橋(げじょうばし)の名があった二重橋も鉄橋に改められた。設計はドイツ人のウィルヘルム・ハイゼで、1888年に完成したが、二重橋の名はそのまま残った。なお、現在の二重橋は1964年（昭和39）の新宮殿造営の際に架け替えられたものである。皇居正門前に二連アーチの石橋があり、その背後にこの鉄橋があるので二重橋というとするのは俗説で、誤りである。

［工藤圭章］

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