Hizen no Kuni Fudoki (Records of Hizen Province’s Geography)
Basic Information
- Catalog ID: 201
- Item ID: 728
- Category: Calligraphy and Books
- Country: Japan
- Period: Heian Period
- Date designated: Feb. 2, 1955
- Prefecture: Kagawa
- Location: Kagawa Prefecture
- Owner: Private Individual
Source: Excerpted from the National Designated Cultural Properties Database (https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index)
Overview
Hizen no Kuni Fudoki is one of many fudoki (geographical reports or records) compiled during the Nara Period, detailing the geography, local products, and legends of various provinces. The National Treasure designated here is a copy (shahon) written in the Heian Period. It remains an extremely important historical source among the few surviving fudoki. This cultural property provides valuable insights into Hizen Province (modern Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures). Because it was passed down through the Fujikawa family of Kagawa Prefecture, it is also known as the “Fujikawa Version.”
Historical Context
In 713 CE, by imperial decree from Emperor Genmei (Genmei Tennō), all provinces were commanded to submit records detailing their place names’ origins, local products, fertility status, and oral traditions. This marked the beginning of the fudoki. While many such reports were created across Japan at that time, only five provinces—Izumo, Hitachi, Harima, Bungo, and Hizen—have survived in a cohesive form to the present day. This specific item was written during the Heian Period. It belongs to a lineage of “summary versions” (ryakpon) that condensed the content of earlier originals, but it remains a valuable surviving example demonstrating the writing style and preservation techniques of the era.
Features and Significance
Hizen no Kuni Fudoki holds high value both for its descriptive content and its quality as a manuscript.
- Valuable Record of Ancient Kyushu: It meticulously details the origins of place names, marine products from Matsuura, and the legends surrounding hot springs (such as Takeo and Ureshino) in various districts of Hizen Province. These records offer a detailed look at life and the natural environment during that time.
- Treasury of Legends and Lore: The text includes many legends associated with Emperor Keika’s tour of Kyushu. It is an indispensable resource for understanding the relationship between ancient royal authority and local governance, particularly through accounts detailing how emperors named places.
- Heian Manuscript Value: As a manuscript reflecting the writing style of the late Heian Period, its beauty of script and excellent state of preservation are worthy of National Treasure status. The paper used is high-quality kōzo paper.
- Systematic Narrative Structure: Unlike other fudoki, which often consist only of fragmented writings, this text presents the geographical and historical information of an entire province in a systematic manner. This makes it a top-tier source for understanding how local governance functioned in ancient Japan.