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The Japanese Imperial dynasty is the oldest in the world.
According to chronicles the first Emperor ascended the throne
in 660 B.C. The Japanese believe that the Emperors are sky-born.
The goddess of sun, Amaterasu, handed over her grandson a
bronze mirror, jasper pendants and a sword and ordered to
light the world as brightly as the mirror, to rule with miracle-working
pendants and conquer enemy with the sword. Even nowadays the
Emperor remains for the Japanese the model of dignity, honesty
and modesty.
The Imperial Palace is situated in the very heart of Tokyo.
The palace is surrounded by the park with high stonewalls
and broad moats, protecting the home of the gods' deputy from
hustle and bustle of the modern megapolis. The palace is opened
to the public only twice a year: on January, 2 (New Year's
Greeting) and on December, 23 (Emperor's birthday). On these
days visitors can enter the inner palace grounds and greet
the members of the Imperial family who make several public
appearances. During the rest of the year the visitors are
allowed only to walk in the magnificent parks around the palace
and admire the Imperial Palace from a distance.
The history of palace dates back to the end of the 16th century
when the military leader Tokugava Ieyasu chose this place
for the construction of a new castle. By that moment Tokyo,
at that time called Edo, had been a small town. But the town
had a very good geographic position both in respect of strategy
and location of trade routes. And soon extensive construction
works started. The territory of the castle was surrounded
by massive stonewalls with 20 gates, 11 towers and 15 barracks.
The overwhelming majority of the building was wooden and not
very high, except for the castle tower that was 51 meters
high. It was the tallest castle tower in Japan's history.
The castle used to be the residence of Tokugava shoguns who
ruled the country from 1603 until 1867. In 1868, the shogunate
was overthrown and the Emperor moved to the Edo castle from
Kyoto, thus the administrative center Edo became the capital
of Japan. During his reign the majority of the wooden buildings
were burnt to the ground. On their places the new buildings,
combining the elements of traditional Japanese architecture
and European pseudo-Empire style, were erected.
The palace was practically ruined during the air-raids of
World War II. The rebuilding of the Imperial palace was complete
only in 1968. The architect B. Takedsaki was the author of
the new one-story building. Near the Double Bridge (Nijubashi),
the main entrance to the territory of the palace, the building
for the official ceremonies and receptions was constructed.
Not far from it there is a modern building with 62 rooms,
where nowadays the Emperor, the Empress and their daughter
live. It should be mentioned that the palace differs from
traditional European royal palaces by the absence of pomposity
and luxury. Simplicity and certain refinement are the characteristic
features of the palace's architecture.
Some Imperial parks, like the Outer Garden and East Garden,
as well as Kitanomaru Park are open to the public. In the
park, traditional Japanese and European landscape design is
represented. Firstly the East Garden was a center of the architectural
ensemble, but all the main buildings were ruined and only
moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses have
been preserved. The Kitanomaru Park is considered to be the
best place in Tokyo to enjoy the blooming of cherry trees.
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