Tosando
/toʊˈsɑːn.doʊ/noun
Tōsandō was a historical Japanese administrative region and route running through the eastern mountain provinces of Japan.
Did you know?Tōsandō was one of Japan’s Gokishichidō, or “Five Provinces and Seven Circuits,” a system that organized imperial territory and major travel routes beginning in the Asuka period.
Etymological Timeline
7th Century
Classical Japanese
東山道 (Tōsandō)
“Eastern Mountain Circuit”
Asuka Period
Japanese
Tōsandō
“An imperial administrative circuit and route through eastern mountainous provinces”
Nara Period
Japanese
東山道
“A formal regional division linking the central government with inland eastern provinces”
Heian Period
Japanese
Tōsandō
“A major route and administrative region extending toward northeastern Japan”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
Tōsandō
“A historical geographical designation associated with inland eastern provinces”
Modern English
English
Tosando
“A romanized historical name for the Japanese Eastern Mountain Circuit”