<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000085388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROUSE COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RSE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215317</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS PLATT W III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VINSON &amp; ELKINS, L.L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2300 FIRST CITY TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002-6760</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5760</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>40.903</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>73938</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>23</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>40.903</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>73915</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person serves as the Trustee of a trust that acquired the shares of Common Stock pursuant to periodic distributions (the &quot;Distributions&quot;) provided for under the Contingent Stock Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1996 (the &quot;Agreement&quot;) by and between The Rouse Company and Holders and the Representatives (as such terms are defined therein).  These shares were sold for the benefit of the Trust of which the Reporting Person serves as Trustee.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person serves as the Trustee of a Trust that acquired the shares of Common Stock pursuant to adjustments to prior Distributions provided for under the Agreement.  These shares were sold for the benefit of the Trust of which the Reporting Person serves as Trustee.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey C. Palkovitz, attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

