沖縄島およびその近海離島における福木屋敷林の地域特性

摘要

Although yashikirin(premises forest) oifukugi (Garcinia subelliptica) trees were common in Okinawa before World War Two, there are only a handful of villages that retain the traditional landscape of fukugi trees today. This study analyses the physical characteristics of yashikirin in Imadomari Village, Nakijin on Okinawa Island and Tonaki Village on Tonaki Island to compare them with yashikirin in Bise Village, Motobu on Okinawa Island and Higashi and Nishi Villages on Aguni Island. Through comparing the physical features of yashikirin in each village, it can be concluded that the trees have been planted in correspondense with the microclimates of each location, particularly to withstand the srtong winds during the winter months. The results of the study also suggest that the historical development of the villages can be traced through the locations of older trees. Although Bise and Tonaki are better known as locations with fukugi yashikirin, Higashi and Nishi on Aguni and Imadomari are also worthy of mention as older trees can be found in these areas.%戦後、急速な近代化が進んだ沖縄において、福木屋敷林に囲まれた伝統的景観を残す集落は貴重な存在となっている。琉球王府は家屋や畑を守るため、18世紀頃から屋敷林として福木注1）の植樹を奨励したとされる注2）。戦前までの琉球諸島では、こうした屋敷林が生活空間として重要な役割を果たしていたが、第二次大戦後の米軍による土地の強制収用や生活の近代化に伴い、その大半が伐採され姿を消した注3）。