Haijō Edict
The Haijō Edict, also known as Haijōrei, (Japanese: 廃城令, Castle abolishment law or Ordinance to dispose of castles) was an edict enacted on 14 January 1873, mainly concerned with the future usage and possible deconstruction of castles in Japan. This edict was done in conjunction with the Haitō Edict (Sword Abolishment Edict) of 1876, which aimed to abolish the ownership of swords in Japan and the Danpatsurei (Cropped Hair Edict) of 1871, which concerned the relaxing of traditional samurai hairstyles. This decision was based upon survey information provided by castle garrisons and a twelve person survey team to the Grand Council of State (Daijōkan, or 太政官), who then ordered the Zenkoku Jōkaku Sonpai-rei (全国城郭存廃令), literally the "Ordinance for the keeping and disposal of the country's castles" to deal with the future of these castles. The name of the edict was eventually shortened to Haijōrei.