Collaborative Research
Synthetic Research on the Significance of Paddy Field Environment in Japanese History
| Type of Research | Specific Research |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Synthetic Research on the Significance of Paddy Field Environment in Japanese History |
| Head of the Research Team | YASUMURO Satoru |
| Research Period | 2005–2007 |
| Research Team |
|
| Purpose | Historically, rice cropping in Japan showed strong specialization tendencies, as Seigyo before the modern age, and as a result, areas that had been highly specialized in the paddy-field rice cropping exceeding 90 percent in the area rate of paddy fields were formed in various regions of Japan. However, from the dwellers' aspect, it is clear that such paddy field environments have not just been used for rice cropping. For instance, it is thought that paddy fields were used as fishing grounds in the composite relation to rice cropping, even though the main fishing grounds for inland water fishing have been divided roughly into lakes and rivers so far. A paddy field before agricultural chemicals and the chemical fertilizers have been used on it is not just a space to grow rice, but an important place for breeding fish such as loach and crucian. Moreover, in case of the Japanese archipelago, a lot of migrant birds including anatine birds visit paddy fields, which can be seen as artificial marshes for passing the winter, and the hunting of such birds has been typically done by the paddy field cultivator. When looking at the paddy field environment of the Japanese archipelago from the aspect of such a complex Seigyo, it can be said that not only rice cropping but also various other functions were carried out in paddy fields. Moreover, it is thought that it affects not only Seigyo but also the spiritual culture such as belief, ritual, and formation of Japanese nature-views. New Agriculture Standards (Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Agricultural Villages) were enforced in 1999, so that the multiple functionality of the paddy fields environment, such as with regard to environmental preservation, formation of a landscape, and patrimony of regional cultures is being reviewed, and investigating the significance of the paddy field environment from various aspects is becoming an issue now. |
2007
Progress
| The 1st Workshop |
|---|
Schedule: July 20(Sat.)–21(Sun.), 2007 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History
|
The 2nd Workshop |
Schedule: November 17(Sat.)–19(Sun.), 2007 Venue: Iwaizumi-cho and Kuji City, Iwate Pref.
|
| The 3rd Workshop |
Schedule: February 23(Sat.)–24(Sun.), 2008 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History
|
Result
At the 1st workshop, the group carried out comparative investigation of ecological history in Japanese rice cropping from the East Asian view, based on the research presentation about terraced paddy-field rice cropping of Yunnan in China. Moreover, the group examined the modern significance of agriculture centering on rice cropping from a pedagogical viewpoint, based on the research presentation with regard to agricultural experience of elementary students.
At the 2nd workshop, the group visited minor grains cultivation regions in the Kitakami mountains (Iwaizumi-cho and Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture) for comparative analysis with paddy-field rice cropping, and co-hosted the Minor Grains Forum at the same time with the Minor Grains Society of Iwate University and Project Society of National Institute for Rural Engineering. A folk characteristic in paddy-field rice cropping could be understood in various respects, like that of the Seigyo technology, the land use, and the food culture, etc. by comparative investigation with such minor grains cultivation regions
At the 3rd workshop, the group examined the adaptation of people to the paddy field environment and relationships between people and animals through the paddy field environment, based on research presentation. Moreover, the folk classification of the paddy field environment by way of the adaptation of people was discussed, based on research presentation.
"National Museum of Japan History research report (special issue)" is scheduled to be published in 2009 with the group's research results.
2006
Progress
| The 1st Workshop |
|---|
Schedule: May 20(Sat.)–21(Sun.), 2006 Venue: Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum
|
The 2nd Workshop |
Schedule: September 2(Sat.)–3(Sun.), 2006 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History
|
| The 3rd Workshop |
Schedule: February 2(Sat.)–4(Sun.), 2007 Venue: Tajiri Community Center (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture)
|
Result
At the 1st workshop, the group discussed relationships in paddy fields between people and the plants and animals from the viewpoint of history of environment, based on research presentations. As a result, the outline of the historical transition of ecological relationships in paddy fields between people and fish (especially cyprinoid fish) was drawn from the perspective of East Asia.
At the 2nd workshop, the group discussed the role of the paddy field environment as a regional resource from the early modern age through the present age. In the present age, especially after the 1990s, the paddy field environment drew increasing attention from the aspects of environmental education and ecological ethics and had come to assume a more significant role as a regional resource.
The 3rd workshop, doubling as a fieldwork exercise, was held in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (surrounding Kabukurinuma) where winter flooding of paddy fields (Fuyu-mizu-tanbo) was practiced. Though the winter flooding of paddy fields came to be practiced for the preservation of landing zones of migratory birds, mainly of anatine birds, in recent years, it is understood that this has been practiced as "Fuyu-mizu-tanbo" in folk society also, and the group could discuss historical relationships between the two from various angles.
"The National Museum of Japan History research report (special issue)" is scheduled to be published in 2009 with the group's research results. Moreover, the group plans to organize the Folk Image Forum inviting cooperative researchers to be panel members in 2008, because an image of folk research produced through cooperative research will be completed in 2007, the final year.
2005
Progress
| The 1st Workshop |
|---|
Schedule: June 11(Sat.)–12(Sun.), 2005 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History
|
The 2nd Workshop |
Schedule: October 1(Sat.)–2(Sun.), 2005 Venue: The 2nd Meeting room of the National Museum of Japanese History
|
| The 3rd Workshop |
Schedule: February 4(Sat.)–5(Sun.), 2006 Venue: The first meeting room of the National Museum of Japanese History
|
Result
At the 1st workshop, the head of the research team explained the aim and details of the inauguration of cooperative research. Afterwards, introduction and discussion of the working scheme for the future were based on the research plan submitted by cooperative researchers.
Moreover, the ideal mode of current Seigyo research in folkloristics and philological historical science and the research trends in recent years were discussed by all members, based on the research presentation of Mr. YASUMURO Satoru and Mr. HARUTA Naoki. As a result, the necessity of Seigyo research in a historical science field was reconfirmed in a broad sense.
At the 2nd workshop, three research reports were made, discussing significance of the paddy-field rice cropping village in contemporary society, by YAMASHITA Yuusaku; discussing the introduction of modern technologies in paddy-field rice cropping regions and the problem of their evaluation, by Ms. WATANABE Ayumi; and discussing Seigyo complex centering on terraced paddy fields in minority communities of contemporary China by Mr. NISHITANI Masaru.
All presentations focus on the paddy field environment and Seigyo in the contemporary society, and discuss how to carry the potential power of paddy-field rice cropping and the paddy field environment into future society and use this power, from each position within the theory of agricultural villages planning, folkloristics, and archaeology. Moreover, opinions were exchanged among cooperative researchers based on the above-mentioned three presentations. As a result, it was pointed out that it is necessary to understand the relations among contemporary society, paddy field environment, and rice cropping as Seigyo, as the research object in a historical science field in a wide sense, and to get actively involved in the object as a modern problem.
At the 3rd workshop, the group discussed paddy fields as a habitat for organisms and the relationships with the global environment chiefly from the perspective of the natural science field of ecology and sedimentology, based on three research presentations by Mr. OBA Nobuyoshi, Mr. MAEHATA Masayoshi, and Mr. FUKUSAWA Hitoshi. As a result, the group could better understand the significance of biodiversity in the paddy field environment and the ecological network between the human activity of rice cropping and the plants and animals.
