一般社団法人 岡山藩郡代 津田永忠顕彰会

「最初に、津田永忠を歴史的人物としてとりあげ、研究することの意義・目的について述べておきたい。歴史的人物とは、時代の要請にこたえ、ひとびとの願いを組織し、社会の発展に貢献した人物である。」
「本書でとりあげる津田永忠は、元禄時代を背景に、岡山藩を舞台として、岡山藩の《元禄時代》を創造した代表的な歴史的人物である」

「岡山藩の《元禄時代》は、大規模な地域開発と、多彩な文化事業によって特色づけられる」
とされています。
そして、津田永忠の大規模な地域開発事業として
1) 倉安川の開鑿と上道郡倉田新田の開発
2) 大用水の開鑿を伴った邑久郡幸島新田の開発
3) 三番用水などの開鑿を伴った上道郡沖新田の開発
4) 田原井堰の築造を伴った磐梨郡の田原用水、和気郡の益原用水の開鑿
5) 竹田・中島の荒手の築造を伴った上道郡百間川のなどの築造
を上げ、多彩な文化事業として
1) 代表的大名庭園後楽園の築庭
2) 藩主池田家の墓所である護国山曹源寺（正覚谷墓所は国指定史蹟）
3) 閑谷学校（国指定史蹟）の講堂（国宝）・聖堂（国指定重要文化財）・芳烈祀（国指定重要文化財）・石塀・鶴鳴門（国指定重要文化財）など
4) 備前一宮吉備津彦神社
などを上げておられます。

ほかにも、牛窓の一文字波止や日生沖の大多府湊と元禄防波堤の造営、備前大池や市ヶ谷池などの溜池の整備などの地域開発事業も津田永忠の仕事ですし、儒式にのっとった和意谷の池田家墓所の造営、岡山藩学や領内124ヶ所の手習所の創設、中国の故事に倣った井田の地割などの文化事業、さらには社倉米や義倉制度の創設、飢饉に際しての施粥所の設置、軍馬生産のための牧の整備、治水のための植林事業や砂防工事など、津田永忠とその配下の人たちのかかわった事業は、数えあげれば切りがありません。

In the beginning of the book entitled “A representative of the Okayama Clan: Nagatada Tsuda” by Hajime Shibata, a prominent researcher of Nagatada Tsuda, he is described as follows:

“At first, I would like to write about the reason I chose to look into the life of Nagatada as a historical figure. Historical figure means here someone who responded to the demands of the time, who listened to what the people wanted and contributed to the development of society.
Nagatada as discussed in this book is a historical representative, he created the Genroku period for the Okayama Clan in Okayama against the background of the Genroku period.The Genroku period for the Okayama Clan is known for its large-scale development of the districts and various cultural projects.”

Examples of large-scale district development projects by Nagatada:

1) The reclamation of the Kurayasu River and a development of the Kurata area, a newly reclaimed paddy field in the Joto district.
2) The development of the Koushima area, a newly reclaimed paddy field in the Oku district accompanied with the construction of a big canal.
3) The development of the Oki area, a newly reclaimed paddy field in the Joto district accompanied with a construction of the Sanban canal.
4) The Tawara canal in the Iwanashi district, together with the construction of the Tawara dam and the construction of the Masuhara canal in the Wake district.
5) The construction of the Hyakken River in Joto district as well as several construction projects in Takeda and Nakashima.

Examples of cultural projects by Nagatada:

1) The construction of the Kourakuen garden, which is representative of the Japanese feudal gardens.
2) The Gokokuzan-Sougen Temple, here are the graves of the chiefs of the Ikeda clan. (The Shoukakudani graves are national historic sites).
3) Shizutani School (a National Historic Site).
Shizutani School was the first school in the world that was open to the general public. This is why Okayama is highly regarded in the field of education.
The lecture hall (National Treasure), temple, Houretsushi Shrine, Kakumei-gate and the stone walls of Houretsuki (all National Important Cultural Assets).
4)The Kibitsuhiko temple in Bizen Ichinomiya.

In addition, district development projects such as the Ichimonji-wharf in Ushimado, the construction of the Ootabu harbor and the Genroku breakwater in Hinase and the maintenance of reservoirs like the large pond in Bizen and Ichigaya pond are among Nagatada’s achievements. Furthermore there are other cultural projects, such as the construction and management of the Confucian style graves of the Ikedas in Waidani; the foundations of domain schools in the Okayama fief; 124 primary educational facilities and the introduction of the Seiden philosophy, which was an imitation of the Chinese way of distributing land. (Under the Seiden system, a field would be divided in nine plots. The plots would be worked by eight different farmers, but the center plot would be worked by all for the benefit of Shizutani School.)

Also he prepared supplies of rice for famine, the establishment of the “Gisou system” where grain is collected from the general public according to their income and is stored for years of scanty harvests. Distribution centers were constructed. He also maintained pasture for the horses of the military and oversaw a plantation project for flood control and landslide prevention.We can see that Nagatada and the people under his command were involved in numerous projects.

Even when we judge it by our present-day standards, Nagatada’s work is truly amazing. He used the best technology. To this day his works are historically significant.It is clear that his achievements have become the basis for Okayama’s wealth.

Now we will introduce the monument that praises the great achievements of Nagatada Tsuda.For a long time, his achievements were considered to be the work of his lord, and his name had been forgotten.
When the Meiji Emperor visited Okayama in August 1885, Nagatada’s name started to be famous again.
This was nearly 180 years after he had passed away.