Japanese Heritage Shōya House

Japanese Heritage Shōya House. 日本の伝統的な庄屋の屋敷. , Welcome to the Shoya House, where the heads of a village in Marugame, Japan, lived for nearly 300 years. , This house was at the center of village life during the Edo period (1603-1867). Local farmers went there to pay taxes, attend festivals and religious ceremonies, and more. , Today, the house is again surrounded by agricultural fields and a garden. It reminds us of the importance of living sustainably with nature. , The Huntington moved the Shoya House from Marugame to San Marino over a seven-year period. , , A Protective Gatehouse , Solid walls surrounded the Shoya House. Most local residents lived outside the gate, but they passed through it for community gatherings or for business dealings with the shoya (head of the village). The gatekeeper lived in one of the rooms built into the structure. Servants and horses occupied the other spaces. , , Built For Defense , The wooden gates were locked at night for privacy and could shield residents if the village came under attack. Other design features protected the earthen walls of the gatehouse itself from wind, water, and fire. , , Entering the House , The shoya (head of the village) ran all aspects of local government from this house. Officials used the main path for formal visits. Farmers, merchants, and craftspeople followed the side path to the entrance we use today. , , A Gathering Space , People from all social classes crossed paths at the Shoya House. Everyone played a specific role in Japan's hierarchical society during the Edo period (1603-1867). , , A Family Design , The design carved into the roof tile above you is filled with symbolic meaning. It is the crest of the Yokoi family, who lived in this house for generations. As shoya (heads of the village), the family held a higher status than other farmers. They could carry swords and use a family name and crest when many could not. , , The Yokoi Family , The Yokoi family traces its roots to Yokoi Motomasa (d. 1585), who fought under warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (d. 1598) to unify Japan. The Toyotomi forces were defeated in 1600, but the Yokoi family were made shoya because of their education and family history. , , The Public Rooms , The front of the Shoya House was used for business. The shoya (head of the village) carried out duties for the community, met with govern- ment officials, and hosted religious ceremonies and celebrations from these rooms. , , The Family Space , The shoya (head of the village) and his family lived in the back of the house. Each room served several functions, and sliding doors could open to connect the rooms or close to separate them. The flexible design of a Japanese home allowed a family to live modestly in a small space. , , Generations of Change , Members of the Yokoi family lived in this house for generations. They added features like glass storm doors and a brick stove over 100 years ago to modernize the house. , , Peek Into the Garden , Today, a common Japanese word for home - katei 家庭 - combines the characters for "house" and "garden."