History Terakoya

terakoya girls in edo period

the first terakoya made appearance @ beginning of 17th century, development educational facilities founded in buddhist temples. before edo period, public educational institutions dedicated children of samurai , ruling families, rise of merchant class in middle of edo period boosted popularity of terakoya, common in large cities edo , osaka, in rural , coastal regions.

the terakoya attendance rate reached 70% in capital edo @ end of 18th century , beginning of 19th century. terakoya abolished in meiji period, when government instituted education system order (gakusei 学制) in 1872, when attending public schools made compulsory give basic education whole population.