英語訳
**Publisher:** Yamashiroya Sahei, Nihonbashi-dori 2-chome, Edo
Tsutaya Bangoro, Daimon-cho, Zenkoji, Shinano Province
**[In red ink]** Box: Hori Family Library
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**Map of the Great Earthquake, Mountain Collapse, River Blockage, and Inundation of Shinano Province, Spring, Third Month, Twenty-Fourth Day of the Hinoto-Hitsuji Year of Koka (1847)**
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**○ The** ***Sandai Jitsuroku*** **(Three Reigns' Veritable Records), fascicles 5 and 10, states:** In the third year of Ninna (887), the year of Hinoto-Hitsuji (丁未), on the last day of the seventh month (Kanoto-Ushi), at the hour of the Monkey (approximately 4 p.m.), there was a great earthquake that continued through several watches without ceasing. The Emperor left for the Jijuden (Hall of Benevolence and Longevity). In the southern garden of the Shishinden (Hall of State Ceremonies), he ordered the Ministry of Finance to erect two seven-*jō* pavilions as his quarters. Buildings of various government offices and residences throughout the eastern and western capitals collapsed in many places, killing many people by crushing. Some died suddenly, as if having lost their senses. At the hour of the Boar (approximately 10 p.m.), the earth again shook three times. All provinces along the Goki-Shichido circuits were greatly shaken on the same day, many government buildings were damaged, seas and lakes rose and overflowed, and the number of people drowned on land was beyond counting.
**○ The** ***Fusō Ryakki*** **(Abbreviated Chronicles of Japan), fascicle 22, states (with introductory portion omitted):** On this day, a great mountain collapsed in Shinano Province, a great river overflowed and flooded six districts (*gun*), sweeping away houses from the ground. Cattle, horses, men, and women were swept away in such numbers that the dead formed hills.
I (the author) consider the following: from the present Koka Hinoto-Hitsuji year (1847) reckoning back, approximately 961 years have elapsed. However, while the histories record that all six districts of our province were utterly devastated in the Ninna Hinoto-Hitsuji disaster, they no longer record the specific place names, and after nearly a thousand years, no oral traditions survive. While it is thus impossible to verify fully, upon reflection, the great rivers that pass through all six districts are probably none other than the Sai (Saigawa) and the Chikuma (Chikumagawa) rivers (the Kiso, Tenryū, Ōi, Himekawa and others do not compare). In this present great disaster, the most severely affected areas are Minochi and Sarashina districts, with flooding extending upstream through Tsukuma and Azumi, and downstream through Hanishina and Takai. The scope of the water disaster thus encompasses nearly all six districts, with people and livestock killed by crushing and drowning—again as in the Ninna catastrophe. Today, people say this is an unprecedented event in all of history; I, for my part, harbored a modest wish and personally visited the area, climbing and traversing the terrain on several occasions, and ultimately produced this map, privately storing it in a chest at home, hoping it might serve as a warning for future generations. These matters arose in haste, and both the details and coarser points are recorded as I witnessed and heard them.
Shinchū [Shinano Province] Hira Masagon, inscribed [with seal]
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**○ Ancient records state:** In the fifteenth year of Empress Suiko's reign (607), Tori no Omi, a senior official (rank of *Dainin*, sixth rank), was dispatched to the eastern provinces, traveling through Mino, reaching Shinano, arriving at the Sea of Minochi, governing Kamitsuke (Kōzuke Province), dividing the Sea of Tone, and opening the Waterfall of Tokawa, the Iwa Pass, and the Karikoshi Pass, as well as the roads of Kurikara and Agero.
Upon reflection, Minochi district and Minochi village are the founding lands of this district. The reference in ancient times to the "Sea of Minochi" must refer to this vicinity. Even now, many large ponds remain in the northern part of the district—these must be its vestiges. This land is protected to the north by the steep precipices of Togakushi, with the Saigawa River to the east and south, the Sakaigawa River to the west, and the Susuhana River to the east, forming what may be called an island. Indeed, without the remarkable skill of the Minochi curved bridge, travel would have been most inconvenient. I believe the name "Minochi" originates here.
(Marginal note: The *Ainōshō* in its section on Zenkoji's coming estate states that "Shinano is high ground, and this district in particular is high, hence it is called the District of Descending Waters"—however, the ten districts of our province are all elevated and stand at the headwaters of the realm. It is doubtful that only this district should be considered high.)
**The Minochi Curved Bridge** (also called "Kumejino Hashi." In poetic place-name anthologies (*uta-makura, myōyori*), it is categorized under "Shinano." The "Kume no Iwahashi" (*Come's Stone Bridge*) mentioned in certain poems is said to be located in Katsuragi, Yamato Province.)
(Marginal note: From the *Shūi Wakashū*: "Just as a buried log is said to rot from within / proceed with care across the bridge of Kumejino road." — Anonymous.)
**○ The** ***Nihongi*** **(Chronicles of Japan) states:** In the twentieth year of Empress Suiko's reign (612), a naturalized person arrived from the kingdom of Paekche, whose face and body were entirely mottled white. He was skilled in constructing great bridges. The people of the time called him "Michiko no Takumi" (Road-Builder Craftsman) and also "Shikimaro."
**○ Ancient records state:** In the twentieth year of Empress Suiko's reign, a person who came from the kingdom of Paekche of their own accord (middle portion omitted, as in the *Nihongi* text) was skilled in constructing great bridges and was sent to build them throughout the various provinces: the Long Bridge of Hagi in Mikawa Province, the Curved Bridge of Minochi, the Plank Bridge of Kiso, the Hamamana Bridge in Tōtōmi Province, the Bridge over the Dark River in Aizu, the Monkey Bridge of Kaiwa Rock in Kai Province, and one hundred eighty other bridges in total.
Regarding the uncertain provenance of these accounts, my colleagues have already investigated the matter, so there is no need to belabor the point here. I have merely excerpted one or two items and recorded them.
In this location, the mountains on both banks press extremely close together, and the waters of the Saigawa rush down in torrents. Through the northern bank's midslope, a channel runs from west to east for five *jō* and four *shaku* (approximately 16 meters), then curves southward where a great bridge crosses. The bridge is ten *jō* five *shaku* (approximately 32 meters) in length, one *jō* four *shaku* (approximately 4 meters) in width, the balustrade three *shaku* (approximately 90 centimeters) in height, and the distance between bridge and water surface is normally about fifteen *jō* (approximately 46 meters) (or some say thirty-three *hiro*). The sight of the jade-green deep pool surging below sends a chill through one's soul.
The ancient poet wrote "proceed with care"—and even now, nothing has changed.
However, in this present disaster (*konsai*) of the Koka Hinoto-Hitsuji year (1847), in the latter part of the third month, the impounded floodwaters had already risen many *jō* above the bridge level. The bridge timbers floated upside down and drifted away, swirling on the water's surface at Hokari village, and on the thirteenth day of the fourth month they broke loose and flowed away, none knowing where (some drifted downstream to the Oku district).
(Marginal note: With a diameter of over three *shaku* and a length of over ten *jō* — might these be the bridge timbers?)
Going to visit the site at this time and inquiring of the local people, I was told that both collapsed rock formations (*tateiwa*) had completely crumbled away, the residual waters still stood at a depth of several *jō*, and the means to rebuild the bridge had all but vanished.
Ah, the transformation of ridge and valley! Shall a thousand-year monument perish here? Is this not a thing truly to be mourned?
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**Hotaka Shrine** (Enshrined in Hotaka Village, Azumi District. Listed in the *Engishiki Jinmyōchō* as a Myōjin-Taisha [great shrine of famous deity].)
**○ The** ***Kojiki*** **(Record of Ancient Matters) states:** The god Watatsumi (Sea God) is the ancestor of the Azumi no Muraji clan.
**○ The** ***Seishiroku*** **(Catalogue of Surnames) states:** The Azumi Sukune clan are descendants of Hodakami no Mikoto, son of the sea god Watatsuimi Toyotamahiko no Kami.
Since it is this god who governed the waters of this land in the primordial age, one should hold his meritorious deeds in deep reverence.
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*(Lower section)*
The so-called four districts of Kawanakajima are: Hanishina, Sarashina, Minochi, and Takai. As recorded in the *Genpei Seisuiki* (Record of the Rise and Fall of the Genji and Heike) and the *Azuma Kagami* (Mirror of the East), these are the deep interior districts of Shinano Province, referred to in local parlance as "the interior districts" (*oku no kōri*).
Stored in the Shimei-kan [Collection]
Reproduction prohibited