Breaking Barriers Travel and the State in Early Modern Japan

Constantine Vaporis challenges the notion that an elaborate and restrictive system of travel regulations in Tokugawa Japan prevented widespread travel, maintaining instead that a "culture of movement" developed in that era. Travel in Tokugawa Japan was officially controlled by bakufu and domainal authorities via a complex system of barriers, or sekisho, and travel permits; commoners, however, found ways to circumvent these barriers. Vaporis examines the development of travel as recreation; he discusses the impact of pilgrimage and the institutionalization of alms-giving on the freedom of movement commoners enjoyed. He explores the reluctance of the bakufu to enforce its travel laws, and in doing so, beautifully evokes the character of the journey through Tokugawa Japan.Vaporis, Constantine N. is the author of 'Breaking Barriers Travel and the State in Early Modern Japan' with ISBN 9780674081079 and ISBN 0674081072.