Call me ignorant but does anyone know how the Four Lands are divided? Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and sometimes Central. I keep seeing in some fics that Edo is apart of the Western Lands and sometimes apart of the East. In my head it makes sense that it is apart of the East but it varies from story to story. Can anyone help? A diagram would be most appreciated too if someone happens to have one.

Much love!

No problem!

Though they don't have to be divided in equal size. They most often aren't in history. Like Korea before it was Goryeo and then Joseon. Back then it was made up of three countries: Gogoryeo, Silla and Baekje. Silla and Baekje were tiny compared to Gogoryeo, though that doesn't mean they should be underestimated. Silla conquered all of them for a time at least.
Such things are just complicated :/

(Hope you are doing well, Chie! Lots of love, Nadine)

I found some maps people have constructed to illustrate the four lands. They are all in Dokuga's fanart section.

Map Overview of Feudal Japan in Inuyasha's world
www.dokuga.com/gallery?func=detail&id=10467

Then you have a couple of authors who recreated either their story's world map or another author's story map . This includes the division lines separating the four lands.
www.dokuga.com/gallery?func=detail&id=10691
www.dokuga.com/gallery?func=detail&id=9758
www.dokuga.com/gallery?func=detail&id=9424

I'm not sure if there is an original or canon map depicting the four lands, but it's fun to look at people's interpretations.
Hope this helped!

The four lands as a concept has no base whatsoever in the canon of Inuyasha. That is why there is so much variation: the division of lands is fully up to the writer of the fic who uses them in their story.

I mean the more you stare at the map of Japan the less the compass point division makes sense anyway since Japan is situated on a north-east to south-west axel so that the southernmost bit is also furthest to the west and the northernmost bit furthest to the east so any kind of clean division would be difficult.

Also I really want to know what map those people are using who are putting Edo into West because it is definitely in the east. I mean Tokyo literally means 'eastern capital'.

Personally, when using the four lands in Chain I think I divided them more or less by using the islands since they impose natural geographical borders. Kyuushuu and Shikoku were southern lands, Hokkaidou was north, and Honshuu was split into east and west. Of course the problem with this kind of division is that the lands won't be of equal size; east and west would be considerably larger than north or south.

But basically the division could be different in each story you read, because the fic writer is the one who gets to decide how the lands are situated.

True, they don't need to be of an equal size. I just personally like things nice and balanced. ;D

And thanks love, I'm doing great, hope you're well too! Miss talking to you!

Yeah if power were more equally spread out things would probably be more peaceful. But reality is sadly far more cruel :/

Yeah miss talking to you too! Though I've been somehow deleted from the discord chatroom. Probably because I haven't been online in so long

Really? o.O I haven't been on much lately because I've been too busy with deadlines, but I hope I can see you again on Discord if you wanna rejoin?

Yeah of course I wanna rejoin What was the link again?

I have the link on my profile.

Also sorry guys for high-jacking the thread. ^^;

Yeah sorry for that ^.^;

Thanks for the info everyone. Much appreciated. ^.^

Imooshi003- The diagrams were very helpful even the ones I didn't agree with. Lol.

Chie/Shiranui- Thank you very much. I definitely do not see the lands all being in equal size. Depending on the story (though most are the same) the Western Lands are the largest and most prosperous. Sometimes with the East being second. Definitely I'm curious as to how some people get Edo as part of the West unless it's some kind of pop-up territory. /• •/

Happy to help!

Also lol at the pop up territory, that would be one explanation for it, sure.

It would be interesting to include the climates as well. Like living in the Northern Lands/Hokkaido is probably harsher and it would affect the political dynamics. Like the Northern Lands could depend on imports. Poverty would be more pronounced and therefore less educated people.
Maybe they have more raw power than tactics.
Though I don't know if life in Hokkaido was that harsh. But I think there would be differences at least. Would be more interesting to include other countries. After all demons can fly and travel faster. Sesshoumaru has probably been already to the deserts, alpines and stuff