京北・山国地域　Keihoku and　Yamaguni　Area

 　この地域の林業は、古くは8世紀、平安京造営時の木材提供に始まる長い歴史を誇ります。その際山国荘には都より３６人の官吏が派遣され、後に定住。荘の名主家の先祖となったと伝えられます。一帯の肥沃な大地の恵みもあって、切り株からの芽を成長させる萌芽更新によるスギ林業は隆盛を誇りました。1950年代以降、現在の一本苗による人工造林の景観へと変わりました。

　 光厳法皇によって1362年に開かれた禅宗の寺院、常照皇寺には、皇室ゆかりの桜の名木などを訪ねる参拝者で賑わいます。上桂川の鮎は、皇室に献上されていた歴史でも知られ、渓流釣りを楽しむ釣り人が多く訪れます。豊かな山の幸に恵まれた、山村の暮らしが今に伝わっているのです。

　The history of forestry in this area dates back to the 8^th century, when old-growth cedar timber hervested here was transported downriver for the constructions of the royal palace (Gosho) of Heian-kyo, as Kyoto was then known. Thirty-six royal officers were sent to Yamaguni-no-sho, a special  terrifory of the Emperor, to oversee this task, and they became the founding ancestors of the local communities.The nutrient-rich soils of the area allowed for repeated harvesting of cedar wood by coppicing which was practiced continuously for the next one thousand years. In the middle of the 20^th century, however, single-seed hervesting displaced coppicing, leading to the plantation forests seen today.

  The nearby Zen remple Joshoko-ji was established in 1362 by Emperor Kogon on his retirement from the throne. Several cherry trees of the temple are linked to the royal family and still plpular with visitors today. Ayu trout from the Katsura River are also associated with the Emperor, as they previously served as offerings to the royal family, and the area is still popular for fishing.

 

桂川上流域　Upper basin of Katsura-gawa river

 

常照皇寺　Joshoko-ji Temple

 

伏条台杉　Fukujodai-sugi　Ceders

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