岡山藩郡代 津田永忠 の事績を岡山世界遺産に
岡山藩郡代津田永忠顕彰会
会長 小嶋光信
今回暫定リスト入りはできませんでしたが、閑谷学校が世界遺産暫定リスト入りする可能性が出てきたことを素直に喜びたいと思いますし、文化庁のご好意に感謝したいと思います。
今回の暫定リストへの申請で、岡山に津田永忠という卓抜した人物と遺産群が現存することを全国に示せ、岡山の郷土の誇りとして再認識していただけたことが最大の効果です。
昨年２月から申請への準備を始めて、県と３市１町がまとまり、各方面の先生方のご協力で、世界遺産の暫定リスト入りへの申請をわずか半年あまりで文化庁へ提出出来たことは素晴らしい快挙であったと思いますし、皆様方の応援の賜物だと感謝しています。
今後、暫定リスト入り出来るように課題を詰めながら、息の長い運動にして、世界遺産という郷土の誇りを実現したいと思いますので引き続き応援よろしくお願いいたします。
いまからおよそ三百年前、延宝から元禄・宝永年間（1672〜1705）にかけて、岡山藩では実質的な藩祖とうたわれる池田光政と二代藩主池田綱政のもとで、地域経済の基盤である農業の振興を目的とした多彩な藩営事業が次々と構想され、実現しています。
２千数百町歩に及ぶ広大な干拓新田や、岡山平野に張り巡らされた稠密な農業用の利水排水網、岡山の城下町を洪水から護りつづけてきた百間川、わが国初の本格的な庶民教育の場となった閑谷学校、かつての農村景観をほとんどそのままの形で継承する大名庭園後楽園、そして現存するわが国最古の運河閘門である吉井水門などの一連の農業土木・文化遺産群がそれです。
遺産の多くは、技術的・造形的完成度の高さから国宝や国の特別史跡、国の特別名勝、国の重要文化財など、合わせて12件の文化財に指定されていますが、これら多彩な藩営事業の構想と築造・経営に深くかかわった人物こそが岡山藩郡代の津田永忠（1640〜1705）です。
津田永忠が本格的に登用されるようになった延宝初期（1672頃）の岡山藩は、相次ぐ洪水や飢饉のために藩財政は破綻寸前、多くの領民が餓死、あるいは餓死寸前の状況にあったといいます。この深刻な事態を打開すべく登用されたのが津田永忠です。
津田永忠はまず、徹底した冗費の節減を柱とした藩政改革を時の藩主綱政に建策し、それを断行するとともに、前藩主光政からの儒教的な命題である「仁政（ヒューマニズムにもとづく領民本意の政治）」の実現と「末代まで廃れざるものづくり」を基本に、その類い稀な構想力と卓越した指揮監督能力、独創的かつ高度な土木技術などを駆使することによって、当時タブーとされていた大規模な干拓新田開発や治水利水事業などにのぞみ、それをことごとく成功させています。そして飢饉から数年の後には、破綻に瀕していた藩財政再建のめどを立て、あわせて疲弊しきった領民の暮らしの再建と経済的な自立に腐心しています。
芥子山からのぞむ２千数百ヘクタールにもおよぶ広大な干拓新田や、周囲の環境と調和し美しく凛とした姿を見せる閑谷学校、数ある大名庭園の中でも水と緑と光のひときわ豊かな空間美を誇る後楽園、いまなおその独創に感嘆させられる運河式閘門の吉井水門など、一連の農業土木・文化遺産群は、いわば津田永忠の徹底した民政重視の思想と独創が生み出した類い稀な文化的結晶であるといっても過言ではありません。美しい人肌色の花崗岩を中心に地元産の石材を多用した用水護岸や民家の石垣など、津田永忠たちが先鞭をつけたともいえる岡山固有の伝統的な田園景観・文化景観は、現在に至るまで人々の日々の暮らしに受け継がれて、四季折々の美しい表情を見せています。
私たちは、これらの農業土木・文化遺産群を、郷土の誇り、わが国を代表する普遍的な文化資産、世界の宝として世界遺産に登録されるよう、市民ならびに産学官をあげて努力していきたいと願っています。
Although it was not possible to include the accomplishments of Nagatada Tsuda in the provisional World Heritage list this time, we are delighted with the possible inclusion of Shizutani School. We appreciate the Agency of Cultural Affairs for this. Thanks to the application people throughout Japan could get to know about Nagatada Tsuda, a brilliant figure from Okayama's history, and about his accomplishments, which are part of our heritage. We take great pride in this in Okayama.
We are very glad that we, in a joint effort with the prefecture, three cities and a town were able to submit our list to the Agency for Cultural Affairs within less than half a year. Experts from many different fields have given their cooperation, beginning in February 2007, we would like to thank them for that.
It would make us very proud if one day these accomplishments could be recognized as World Heritage. This is a big challenge, and we would appreciate it if you continue supporting us.
Okayama Clan Nagatada Tsuda study group
Chairman Mitsunobu Kojima
The ruling Clan in Okayama planned and realized various projects that formed the basis of regional economies. This took place under Mitsumasa Ikeda, who is considered the founding father of the Okayama Clan, and under Tsunamasa Ikeda, the second Daimyo (Lord) of the Clan, about 300 years ago (from 1672 to 1705).
These projects ranged from agricultural, to civil engineering, to cultural. They included a vast area of reclaimed paddy fields, ranging over two thousand and several hundred hectares; a drainage system for farming the plains surrounding Okayama; the Hyakken River, which has been keeping the castle towns in Okayama from flooding; Shizutani School, the first official school in Japan for all children; a park built for the feudal lords called the Korakuen, where the farming scenery of that period can still be seen; and a water gate for the Yoshii River, which is the oldest waterway structure in Japan that still exists today.
Many of these heritage sites have been designated to 12 cultural assets, including National Treasures, National Special Historic Sites, Special Places of Scenic Beauty and National Important Cultural Assets.
The person responsible for the planning, construction and management of these various projects was Nagatada Tsuda (1640-1705). He was a representative of the Okayama Clan. Around the year 1672, the local economy was on the brink of bankruptcy. Many people were starving to death due to a succession of floods and famine. It was Nagatada Tsuda who was appointed to come up with a solution to these problems.
At first Nagatada proposed to Daimyo Tsunamasa political reform, focusing on a complete cut of waste. This was carried out.
In addition to this he succeeded in the large-scale development of the newly reclaimed paddy fields -which was taboo in those days- and in river improvement with many water circulation projects. For this he made good use of his excellent imagination and skills in supervising and civil engineering.
In these projects he felt inspired by a school of humanism called 'Jinsei', on which he based people-oriented politics. Here he applied the Confucian idea of building works (such as a river or a school) that would last for generations to come. Policy was based on these ideas since the rule of Mitsumasa.
Several years after the famine he implemented a schedule to rebuild the economy of the Okayama Clan, which had been in danger of bankruptcy. Also he made efforts to improve the lives of the people who were exhausted by what had happened and he worked on making them economically independent again.
It is not too much to say that Nagatada's projects now form a unique cultural heritage, created through his drastic focus on the benefits for the general public (as opposed to only the aristocracy) and his originality. The heritage sites are composed of agricultural, civil engineering and cultural projects. They include a vast area of reclaimed paddy fields, ranging over two thousand and several hundred hectares; Shizutani School, which stands in beautiful and majestic harmony in the surroundings; the Korakuen, which is praised for its spaciousness and abundance of water, greenery and light when compared to other parks built for Japanese feudal aristocracy; and the highly original water gate of the Yoshii River.
The traditional pastoral and cultural landscapes that are typical of Okayama and also originate here were pioneered by Nagatada. Examples are the seawalls and fences for which local granite was used. This has a beautiful flesh color. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation and the walls look attractive differently in every season. We will do our best to promote this heritage so that these agricultural, civil engineering and cultural sites will be registered as World Heritage : universal cultural assets typifying this country and as world treasures.
会長 小嶋光信
世界遺産暫定リストへの結果発表に対してのコメント
今回暫定リスト入りはできませんでしたが、閑谷学校が世界遺産暫定リスト入りする可能性が出てきたことを素直に喜びたいと思いますし、文化庁のご好意に感謝したいと思います。
今回の暫定リストへの申請で、岡山に津田永忠という卓抜した人物と遺産群が現存することを全国に示せ、岡山の郷土の誇りとして再認識していただけたことが最大の効果です。
昨年２月から申請への準備を始めて、県と３市１町がまとまり、各方面の先生方のご協力で、世界遺産の暫定リスト入りへの申請をわずか半年あまりで文化庁へ提出出来たことは素晴らしい快挙であったと思いますし、皆様方の応援の賜物だと感謝しています。
今後、暫定リスト入り出来るように課題を詰めながら、息の長い運動にして、世界遺産という郷土の誇りを実現したいと思いますので引き続き応援よろしくお願いいたします。
津田永忠の事績
いまからおよそ三百年前、延宝から元禄・宝永年間（1672〜1705）にかけて、岡山藩では実質的な藩祖とうたわれる池田光政と二代藩主池田綱政のもとで、地域経済の基盤である農業の振興を目的とした多彩な藩営事業が次々と構想され、実現しています。
２千数百町歩に及ぶ広大な干拓新田や、岡山平野に張り巡らされた稠密な農業用の利水排水網、岡山の城下町を洪水から護りつづけてきた百間川、わが国初の本格的な庶民教育の場となった閑谷学校、かつての農村景観をほとんどそのままの形で継承する大名庭園後楽園、そして現存するわが国最古の運河閘門である吉井水門などの一連の農業土木・文化遺産群がそれです。
遺産の多くは、技術的・造形的完成度の高さから国宝や国の特別史跡、国の特別名勝、国の重要文化財など、合わせて12件の文化財に指定されていますが、これら多彩な藩営事業の構想と築造・経営に深くかかわった人物こそが岡山藩郡代の津田永忠（1640〜1705）です。
津田永忠が本格的に登用されるようになった延宝初期（1672頃）の岡山藩は、相次ぐ洪水や飢饉のために藩財政は破綻寸前、多くの領民が餓死、あるいは餓死寸前の状況にあったといいます。この深刻な事態を打開すべく登用されたのが津田永忠です。
津田永忠はまず、徹底した冗費の節減を柱とした藩政改革を時の藩主綱政に建策し、それを断行するとともに、前藩主光政からの儒教的な命題である「仁政（ヒューマニズムにもとづく領民本意の政治）」の実現と「末代まで廃れざるものづくり」を基本に、その類い稀な構想力と卓越した指揮監督能力、独創的かつ高度な土木技術などを駆使することによって、当時タブーとされていた大規模な干拓新田開発や治水利水事業などにのぞみ、それをことごとく成功させています。そして飢饉から数年の後には、破綻に瀕していた藩財政再建のめどを立て、あわせて疲弊しきった領民の暮らしの再建と経済的な自立に腐心しています。
芥子山からのぞむ２千数百ヘクタールにもおよぶ広大な干拓新田や、周囲の環境と調和し美しく凛とした姿を見せる閑谷学校、数ある大名庭園の中でも水と緑と光のひときわ豊かな空間美を誇る後楽園、いまなおその独創に感嘆させられる運河式閘門の吉井水門など、一連の農業土木・文化遺産群は、いわば津田永忠の徹底した民政重視の思想と独創が生み出した類い稀な文化的結晶であるといっても過言ではありません。美しい人肌色の花崗岩を中心に地元産の石材を多用した用水護岸や民家の石垣など、津田永忠たちが先鞭をつけたともいえる岡山固有の伝統的な田園景観・文化景観は、現在に至るまで人々の日々の暮らしに受け継がれて、四季折々の美しい表情を見せています。
私たちは、これらの農業土木・文化遺産群を、郷土の誇り、わが国を代表する普遍的な文化資産、世界の宝として世界遺産に登録されるよう、市民ならびに産学官をあげて努力していきたいと願っています。
Commentary on the provisional list for the World Heritage Centre.
Although it was not possible to include the accomplishments of Nagatada Tsuda in the provisional World Heritage list this time, we are delighted with the possible inclusion of Shizutani School. We appreciate the Agency of Cultural Affairs for this. Thanks to the application people throughout Japan could get to know about Nagatada Tsuda, a brilliant figure from Okayama's history, and about his accomplishments, which are part of our heritage. We take great pride in this in Okayama.
We are very glad that we, in a joint effort with the prefecture, three cities and a town were able to submit our list to the Agency for Cultural Affairs within less than half a year. Experts from many different fields have given their cooperation, beginning in February 2007, we would like to thank them for that.
It would make us very proud if one day these accomplishments could be recognized as World Heritage. This is a big challenge, and we would appreciate it if you continue supporting us.
Okayama Clan Nagatada Tsuda study group
Chairman Mitsunobu Kojima
Achievements of Nagatada Tsuda
The ruling Clan in Okayama planned and realized various projects that formed the basis of regional economies. This took place under Mitsumasa Ikeda, who is considered the founding father of the Okayama Clan, and under Tsunamasa Ikeda, the second Daimyo (Lord) of the Clan, about 300 years ago (from 1672 to 1705).
These projects ranged from agricultural, to civil engineering, to cultural. They included a vast area of reclaimed paddy fields, ranging over two thousand and several hundred hectares; a drainage system for farming the plains surrounding Okayama; the Hyakken River, which has been keeping the castle towns in Okayama from flooding; Shizutani School, the first official school in Japan for all children; a park built for the feudal lords called the Korakuen, where the farming scenery of that period can still be seen; and a water gate for the Yoshii River, which is the oldest waterway structure in Japan that still exists today.
Many of these heritage sites have been designated to 12 cultural assets, including National Treasures, National Special Historic Sites, Special Places of Scenic Beauty and National Important Cultural Assets.
The person responsible for the planning, construction and management of these various projects was Nagatada Tsuda (1640-1705). He was a representative of the Okayama Clan. Around the year 1672, the local economy was on the brink of bankruptcy. Many people were starving to death due to a succession of floods and famine. It was Nagatada Tsuda who was appointed to come up with a solution to these problems.
At first Nagatada proposed to Daimyo Tsunamasa political reform, focusing on a complete cut of waste. This was carried out.
In addition to this he succeeded in the large-scale development of the newly reclaimed paddy fields -which was taboo in those days- and in river improvement with many water circulation projects. For this he made good use of his excellent imagination and skills in supervising and civil engineering.
In these projects he felt inspired by a school of humanism called 'Jinsei', on which he based people-oriented politics. Here he applied the Confucian idea of building works (such as a river or a school) that would last for generations to come. Policy was based on these ideas since the rule of Mitsumasa.
Several years after the famine he implemented a schedule to rebuild the economy of the Okayama Clan, which had been in danger of bankruptcy. Also he made efforts to improve the lives of the people who were exhausted by what had happened and he worked on making them economically independent again.
It is not too much to say that Nagatada's projects now form a unique cultural heritage, created through his drastic focus on the benefits for the general public (as opposed to only the aristocracy) and his originality. The heritage sites are composed of agricultural, civil engineering and cultural projects. They include a vast area of reclaimed paddy fields, ranging over two thousand and several hundred hectares; Shizutani School, which stands in beautiful and majestic harmony in the surroundings; the Korakuen, which is praised for its spaciousness and abundance of water, greenery and light when compared to other parks built for Japanese feudal aristocracy; and the highly original water gate of the Yoshii River.
The traditional pastoral and cultural landscapes that are typical of Okayama and also originate here were pioneered by Nagatada. Examples are the seawalls and fences for which local granite was used. This has a beautiful flesh color. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation and the walls look attractive differently in every season. We will do our best to promote this heritage so that these agricultural, civil engineering and cultural sites will be registered as World Heritage : universal cultural assets typifying this country and as world treasures.