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Six
components that make Iwami Ginzan a valuable site: |
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(1) |
Industrial Ruins, such
as facilities for silver mining and refining. |
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(2) |
Lifestyle Ruins illustrating
the lives spent by miners, and those associated with the mine. |
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(3) |
Ruins that expose religious
ways, and traditions of those that manufactured, governed and consumed the silver. |
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(4) |
Ruins that show facilities
that governed the manufacturing and circulation of silver as a commodity; and
castles built to oversee the mining area, that tell of the governance at the time. |
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(5) |
Ruins that show the
wide circulation of silver such as ports, harbors and roads that led to the transportation,
supply and consumption of silver; including silver ore. |
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(6) |
Two districts, that
even today, preserve the historical landscape that depicts the formation and development
of the Iwami Ginzan Area. |
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The intrinsic values of the Iwami Ginzan Ruins are a mixture of the
above mentioned 6 components (that are very closely and mutually related to each
other) that remain still today, in an environment that is rich in nature.
There is evidence prepared that Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is of 'significant
universal value' and will prove to be a unique property of Cultural World Heritage.
As such, we have the responsibility to preserve this cultural world
heritage, and it is necessary to pass it down to future generations, as defined
in the world heritage convention we must aim for the nomination and registration
as a world heritage property.
Through nomination we will be able to disseminate to the world the
unique Japanese culture and the value of our cultural heritage. It is a firm belief
that we will preserve this heritage in the future with great momentum.
|
| Nationally Designated Historically Significant Ruins and Appointed
Preservation Districts |
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|
Area Name |
Outline of Ruins |
|
| Completed Nomination/ Appointment |
(1) |
Silver Mine Ruins Central Area |
This area was the focal point for mine activity,
as shown in maps of the area dating back to the Edo Period. Establishment of an
administration regime saw a fence built around the mine. In this area lie industrial,
religious and everyday remains of the period. |
 |
| (2) |
Iwami Castle Ruins |
Iwami Castle was built as a barrier between the mine
and the coastline. Earth was piled up to form a wall-so as to prevent easy entrance-
and trenches and various other structures were built on the peak. |
| (3) |
Yahazu Castle Ruins |
On the north and south peaks fences were built and
trenches were dug for defense. Struggles for control over the mine were held here. |
| (4) |
Yataki Castle Ruins |
This castle was a stronghold for the battles for
control of the mine. Today there remains fences, dirt and stone walls. |
| (5) |
Tomogaura |
This is a port that was used from the start of the
mine's era to transport silver ore. Boat mooring facilities and shrine ruins remain. |
| (6) |
Okidomari |
For the last half of the 16th century this port was
used to bring in supplies and seen as the base of the Mori Clan's activities.
At the entrance was Kushi and Unonaru Castles. Boat mooring facility ruins remain
today. |
| (7) |
Historically Significant Structures- Omori Ginzan
Silver Mine Preservation District |
With the development of the mine this area also grew
into a town district. The buildings remain much unchanged, giving us a glimpse
of what the era must have looked like at the end if the Edo Period. This era also
has a mixture of the remains of unique samurai homes. |
 |
Future Nomination/ Appointment |
(8) |
Ginzan Kaido Silver Mine Road |
The Silver Mine Road carried the silver refined at
the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. Many supplies were also transported on this road.
There were two routes: the path toward Yunotsu (The Okidomari-Yunotsu Route) and
the path towards Nima Town (The Tomogaura Route). |
| (9) |
Gohyakurakan and Rakanji Temple |
From the middle of the 18th century, efforts were
made to create 500 stone statues of Buddha which were placed in a stone cave to
appease the souls of ancestors and those who died in the mines. This area was
put under direct control and many donations were given to the Inner Palace. |
| (10) |
Miyanomae Area |
This area has seen many changes over 3 periods in
history: the end of the Warring States Era, the start and end of the Edo Periods.
The town has many ruins of silver refining facilities left. |
| (11) |
Tomogaura Settlement |
According to old records this town flourished with
over 1000 households. Today ruins of the transportation routes and a guard house
(built to stop the theft of silver) remain. |
| (12) |
Okidomari Settlement |
There are many good traces of this port town's history,
such as an old communal well, Ebisu Shrine and a transportation route to the mine. |
| (13) |
Historically Significant Structures- Yunotsu Preservation
District |
This area was a military and economic base from Medieval
Times and as such the town grew rapidly. The buildings remain much unchanged today
in their 17th century condition and are a prime preservation district of the Yunotsu
area. |
| (14) |
Area to be designated as the Ginzan Fence |
Adjacent to the Iwami Ginzan fenced area, that was
the center of the mine's activity, lies an area that we wish to be designated
as a preservation district. We were unable to attain permission from the individual
who holds the Miners Rights in March of 2002. Here remain many religious and manufacturing
ruins of the era, including the Shimizudani Refining Station and Ryushoji Temple. |
