"One of the least understood and often maligned aspects of the
Tokugawa Shogunate is the Ooku, or 'Great Interior, ' the
institution within the shogun's palace, administered by and for the
upper-class shogunal women and their attendants who resided there.
Long the object of titillation and a favorite subject for
off-the-wall fantasy in historical TV and film dramas, the actual
daily life, practices, cultural roles, and ultimate missions of
these women have remained largely in the dark, except for
occasional explosions of scandal. In crystal-clear prose that is a
pleasure to read, this new book, however, presents the Ooku in a
whole new down-to-earth, practical light. After many years of
perusing unexamined Ooku documents generated by these women and
their associates, the authors have provided not only an overview of
the fifteen generations of Shoguns whose lives were lived in
residence with this institution, but how shoguns interacted
differently with it. Much like recent research on imperial
convents, they find not a huddled herd of oppressed women, but on
the contrary, women highly motivated to the preservation of their
own particular cultural institution. Most important, they have been
able to identify "the culture of secrecy" within the Ooku itself to
be an important mechanism for preserving the highest value,
'loyalty, ' that essential value to their overall self-interested
mission dedicated to the survival of the Shogunate itself." -
Barbara Ruch, Columbia University "The aura of power and prestige
of the institution known as the ooku-the complex network of women
related to the shogun and their living quarters deep within Edo
castle-has been a popular subject of Japanese television dramas and
movies. Brushing aside myths and fallacies that have long obscured
our understanding, this thoroughly researched book provides an
intimate look at the lives of the elite female residents of the
shogun's elaborate compound. Drawing information from contemporary
diaries and other private memoirs, as well as official records, the
book gives detailed descriptions of the physical layout of their
living quarters, regulations, customs, and even clothing, enabling
us to actually visualize this walled-in world that was off limits
for most of Japanese society. It also outlines the complex
hierarchy of positions, and by shining a light on specific women,
gives readers insight into the various factions within the ooku and
the scandals that occasionally occurred. Both positive and negative
aspects of life in the "great interior" are represented, and one
learns how some of these high-ranking women wielded tremendous
social as well as political power, at times influencing the
decision-making of the ruling shoguns. In sum, this book is the
most accurate overview and characterization of the ooku to date,
revealing how it developed and changed during the two and a half
centuries of Tokugawa rule. A treasure trove of information, it
will be a vital source for scholars and students of Japan studies,
as well as women's studies, and for general readers who are
interested in learning more about this fascinating women's
institution and its significance in Japanese history and culture."
- Patricia Fister, International Research Center for Japanese
Studies, Kyoto
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