沖縄県粟国島における福木屋敷林の実態

摘要

Located 57 km in the North-west of Okinawa Island, Aguni Island is one of few places in Okinawa in which well-preserved yashikirin(premises forest) of fukugi (Garcinia subelliptica) trees can still be seen. This study analyses the physical characteristics of yashikirin in the villages of Higashi and Nishi on Aguni by measuring the actual size of the trees. It finds that the number of fukugi trees in these villages is approximately 9,800 and that the trees have been deliberately planted along the specific sides of premises to respond to the climate of the island, particularly during the winter months. It also suggests that the historical development of the village may be traced by the distibution of larger (older) fukugi trees.%粟国島は那覇市の北西約57kmの洋上に位置しており、南に渡名喜rn島、南西に久米島を望む近海離島の一つである。面積約7.9km~2、rn周囲約12km、人口936人（2005年国勢調査）となっている。島の地形は、南西部から西部は絶壁で海抜90mの高台となっており、そこから東部の平地に向けて穏やかな段丘が続き、東海岸は砂丘で囲まれている。島の南側中程の高台に東集落と西集落が隣接して立地しており、やや離れた港近くの低地に浜集落が立地する。