Modern Japanese English Translations and Content Analysis of ‘Additional Articles on the Scope of he Forest Administration Bureau Yamabugyousho Kimochou Shitsugi' from the ‘ Eight Volumes on Forest Administration.'

摘要

Yamabugyousho Kimochou Shitsugi consists of 13 articles in total, five of which focus on tree felling, three that relate to　the duties of forest-related officials and the proper method of cutting trees and two dealing with crackdowns on illegal tree　felling. Particularly worthy of attention are the provisions related to forest conservation. It was strictly prohibited to cut down trees at places of hougo that are of great importance to the preservation of the forest or to cut trees at the borders of community forests (sanya) that surround the somayama (government-use forests). In terms of the concept of hougo the trees located at the so-called'gate of hougo (gate of embraced protection)' are of critical importance. If such areas are opened up by reckless tree felling this will allow damaging winds to enter the inner forest and will eventually bring ruin to the forest. There is also the idea of yosebatsu (destructive felling) that warns against the damage that can be caused to the inner forest by cutting down too many useful trees at one concentrated area (such as the gate of hougo). In today's terms this is close to the idea of clear-cutting (ka ibatsu) that would disturb the sanqi (forest atmosphere) and lead to the decline of the trees in the very inner forest. With regard to the delive1y of timber, the Royal Government would first send a tegata (goods request) to each magiri bansho. This tegata would specify the type of tree, the required dimensions and any other important details. Based on the information in the tegata forest officials would go to the most appropriate forest site, select and cut down the timber requested. If the timber delivered to the Royal Government did not match the dimensions requested in the tegata it would have to be replaced. Because this constituted a waste of valuable wood resources regulations were put in place so that forest officials would be held accountable. In order to prevent such waste forest officials were taught the so-called 'yamaku no shouhou' (forest care and management techniques) and commanded to work hard in carrying out their duties.