Genkō Bōrui
| Genkō Bōrui | |
|---|---|
Nguyên khấu phòng 塁 | |
| Nishi-kutoHigashi-ku, FukuokaJapan | |
 A stone defense wall (Genkō Bōrui) at Nishijin, nearSeinan University.Currently, only the top of a few stone walls are exposed to the ground, and most of them have been reclaimed | |
  Genkō Bōrui  Genkō Bōrui | |
| Coordinates | 33°35′08″N130°18′30″E/ 33.58556°N 130.30833°E |
| Type | Fortification line |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes (no public facilities) |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1276-1332 |
| Built by | Kamakura shogunate |
| Battles/wars | Mongol invasions of Japan |
TheGenkō Bōrui(Nguyên khấu phòng 塁)was a defensive stone wall, 20 kilometres (12 mi) long, constructed alongHakata BayinFukuoka Prefecture.Japanin preparation for an attack by Mongol forces of theYuan dynastyafterthe first attack of 1274.[1]The second attack of 1281 was thwarted by a typhoon, orkamikaze,and the Mongols were forced to withdraw.[2]In theEdo period,some of the stones were reused for the construction ofFukuoka Castle,though Genkō Bōrui has remained intact at several points along the Hakata Bay. It was originally called"Ishitsuiji"(Thạch trúc mà).It was designated aNational Historic Siteon March 30, 1931.[3]
History
[edit]The Mongol invasionsGenkō(Nguyên khấu)of Japan in 1274 and 1281 were major military efforts undertaken byKublai Khanto conquer Japan. After the failure of the first invasion, theKamakura shogunateinitiated a series of projects in 1275 to prepare for the next invasion, which they felt was imminent. In addition to improving the organization of thesamuraiof Kyushu, they ordered the construction of a large stone wall<and other defensive structures at many potential landing points, including Hakata Bay. A defensive wall was planned and a tax was levied on the samurai, temples, and shrines, of 3.3 centimetres (1.3 in) of construction stone perpaddy fieldequivalent to onekokuof rice.[4]Construction began in March 1276. The planned date of completion for most of the wall was August of the same year, but the deadline differed depending on the strategic importance of given locations, and in actuality only a portion had been completed in time for the 1281 invasion. Construction of the defense wall was made by various Kyushu provinces and continued until 1332. These provinces continued maintenance on the wall until the early part of theMuromachi period,although by the latter half of the 14th century it had fallen into disrepair.[5]
The portion of the Genkō Bōrui that had been completed before the second invasion prevented the enemy from landing at Hakata and the invaders were forced to anchor their ships atShikanoshima Island.The battles occurred over several months between several thousand evenly-matched combatants.Takezaki SuenagaofHigo Provincejoined the battles and had artists draw scrolls concerning theBattle of Kōan.This second attack of 1281 was finally thwarted by a typhoon, orkamikaze,and the Mongols were forced to withdraw.[6]
In theEdo period,most of the stones were used for the construction ofFukuoka Castle.It was designated aNational Historic Siteon March 30, 1931.[7][3]
Similar fortifications also still exist along a 40-50 kilometer stretch of coastline from Tabira-cho,Hiradoto Hoshika-cho,Matsuura,Nagasaki Prefecture.
Taxation and transformation
[edit]At first, battle-ready soldiers were excluded from taxation, but this policy was soon discontinued and each province in Kyushu was taxed. The tax was usually onesun(3.3 cm) of the wall's length per 1tanof rice field; the weapons were one shield, one flag and 20 arrows per 1jo(3.314 yards) of stone wall. The tax was in the form of men who constructed the wall and in the form of the items (weapons), but later the tax was paid in money; 114monper onechoof rice field was typical. The taxation continued to the early part of the Muromachi Bakufu.[7]
Structure
[edit]The Genkō Bōrui was typically 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) wide. The western end was in Imazu inNishi-ku, Fukuokaand the eastern end in Kashii,Higashi-ku, Fukuoka,and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) long. It was packed with small stones inside, the seaside steep and the landside less steep. Shields and flags were placed on the Genkō Bōrui and stakes were planted in the sea at irregular intervals.
Etymology
[edit]In articles of theFukuoka Nichi Nichi Shimbun( "Fukuoka Daily Newspaper" ) between June 12 and June 29, 1913,Heijiro Nakayamafirst used the wordsGenkō Bōruito mean "Mongolian Invasion defense structure"[9]and he contrasted the Genkō Bōrui from conventional stone defense by its high elevation and its design as a sand dike covered with stones; a structure which would effectively block an invasion attempt.[10]
Archaeological excavations
[edit]The Genkō Bōrui was excavated at the locations listed below.[11]All locations were alongHakata Bay,within the city ofFukuoka.
In 1958, human bones corresponding to 200 bodies were found in Imazu near the defensive structure, with ceramics considered to have been used by those convened for the construction of the wall.[12]
| Year | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Ikino Matsubara nearMeinohama Station | Use of sandstone and granite confirmed. |
| 1969 | Imazu nearShimoyamato Station | Basalt and granite were used, differing by location. |
| 1970 | Nishijin near the center ofSeinan University | Clay and sand in alternate layers. |
| 1978 | Meinohama | Stone fill; no clay. Width is 4 metres (13 ft). |
| 1993 | NearHakozaki Shrine | Few stones uncovered during railway construction. Nothing more of value found. |
| 1996 | Momochi nearFukuoka Dome | Scattered stones were found and investigated during the construction of an apartment building. |
| 1998 | Ikino Matsubara nearMeinohama Station | Rear consists of alternate sand and clay layers. |
| 1998 | Nishijin | Inside aSeinan Universitybuilding, stone and sand fences apparent.[13][clarification needed] |
| 2000 | NearHakozaki Shrine | Railway construction led to uncovering and investigation of more of the wall |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^Phúc cương thị nguyên khấu phòng 塁 điều tra ủy ban (1970)."Phúc cương thị tây tân nguyên khấu phòng 塁 phát quật điều tra khái báo".Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan.Retrieved2016-09-02.
- ^Cyclopedia of Japanese History[1994:6–765]
- ^ab"Nguyên khấu phòng 塁"(in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.RetrievedDecember 20,2023.
- ^Shoji Kawazoe,Review: What does Genkō Bōrui Tell?History of Fukuoka City; Fukuoka (Journal, first issue) 2006, p.5–39
- ^Shoji Kawazoe[1979:526–527]
- ^"Chapter 11".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-25.Retrieved2012-07-06.
- ^abKawazoe[1979:527]
- ^Kawazoe[1979:526]
- ^Kawazoe[2006:6]
- ^Kawazoe[2006:6] citingA New Study of Mongolian Invasion SitebyHeijiro Nakayama.
- ^Tây tân khu vực nguyên khấu phòng 塁 phát quật điều tra báo cáo thư[Nishijin Area Genkō Bōrui Excavation Report] (in Japanese), Fukuoka: Fukuoka City Board of Education, 2002
- ^Kawazoe[2006:17]
- ^Tây tân khu vực nguyên khấu phòng 塁 phát quật điều tra báo cáo thư [2002:1–20]
External links
[edit]
- Quốc sử tích nguyên khấu phòng 塁 ( sinh き の tùng tại chỗ khu ) phục nguyên ・ sửa chữa báo cáo thư[Genkō Bōrui of Ikino Matsubara] (in Japanese), Fukuoka: Fukuoka City Board of Education, 2001
- Kei Okazaki, ed. (1984),Ancient Hakata(in Japanese), Kyushu University Press
- Shoji Kawazoe (2006),Thị sử nghiên cứu ふくおか ra đời hào nguyên khấu phòng 塁が ngữ るも の[Fukuoka Journal First Edition, What Genkō Bōrui Tell] (in Japanese), Fukuoka: Fukuoka Museum Fukuoka City History Editing Committee, pp. 5–30
- Nhật Bản sử đại sự điển 6[Cyclopedia of Japanese History 6] (in Japanese), Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1994, p. 765,ISBN4-582-13106-9
- Shoji Kawazoe (1979),Quốc sử đại từ điển 1[Encyclopedia of Japanese History 1 a-i] (in Japanese), Tokyo: Yoshikawa Kobunkan, p. 526,527
- Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan,Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
- Cultural Properties of Fukuoka Prefecture(in Japanese)
- Cultural Properties in Fukuoka Prefecture(in Japanese)
- Fukuoka Tourism Web(in Japanese)