shimoyashiki 下屋敷

One of the residences granted to daimyō 大名 by the Edo government, as part of the system where feudal lords were compelled to spend alternate years away from their provinces in Edo. A daimyō's main residence in Edo was called kamiyashiki 上屋敷; the shimoyashiki, located outside of central Edo, was an additional residence used as a refuge in emergencies, or as a holiday retreat. Another spare Edo residence was the nakayashiki 中屋敷, usually inhabited by the younger generation who will succeed the daimyō.