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～Big challenges and issues of small towns: "Co-existence with nature" beyond time and space, nurtured by the earth and people in Iwate～

 

■“Hiraizumi”, ancient capital of Michinoku, aims to be a World Heritage site (October 16, 2008)

 

Hiraizumi-cho, Iwate prefecture, Japan
About 800 years ago, the Oshu-Fujiwara family built its own political and administrative center in Hiraizumi, a place that was strategically important for waterway traffic, based upon Pure Land Buddhist cosmology and in adaptation to the diverse natural landforms.  

 

“Cultural heritage of Hiraizumi”, centered on Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple, was added to Japan’s tentative list of World Heritage sites in 2001. It was recommended as a World Heritage site to the UNESCO in 2006, called “Hiraizumi- Cultural Landscape Associated with Pure Land Buddhist Cosmology”.  

 

However, the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee decided in July this year to “postpone the registration”. Mr. Takuya Tasso, governor of Iwate prefecture, encouraged people in the prefecture by quickly setting out a policy to aim for registration in 2011. Moreover, local entities concerned are boldly conducting activities that were initially planned, showing their determination to make another bid. 

 

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- Mr. Takuya Tasso, Governor of Iwate prefecture

 

The registration of Hiraizumi of Iwate prefecture as a UNESCO World Heritage site was postponed this year. However, I understand that this doesn’t mean the value of Hiraizumi was insufficient as World Heritage, but we couldn’t reach a consensus over the logical framework of describing it.

 

Aiming for registration in three years, we have made a fresh start by making new efforts on how to describe it so that many experts can reach consensus.  

 

 

- Mr. Nobutane Chiba, World Heritage Promotion Office, Hiraizumi-cho

 

The big problem is how to think of Hiraizumi’s heritage as “cultural landscape”. We tried to describe its entire heritage as “cultural landscape”, but we could not gain (UNESCO’s) understanding.  

 

Some of the points made say that the heritage of Hiraizumi’s Buddhist culture cannot be bracketed together as Pure Land Buddhism, and we must explain Hiraizumi better in clearly understandable terms. It is our challenge to work out how to clear these points. 

 

 

- Mr. Chojun Kanno, Executive Director of Chusonji Temple

 

Konjikido is the only remaining building in all Hiraizumi dating back 800 years.
It is preserved in perfect condition.
It enshrines the prayer of Kiyohira, the founder of the Oshu-Fujiwara family, for peace and opposition to wars. 

 

At Chusonji, everyone pays attention to the buildings and artistically crafted items represented by Konjikido. However, one more important thing is that various kinds of archaeological remains from the Heian period including temples are buried under the ground of Chusonji. This is related to the fact that everything inside the temple’s perimeter is designated a Special Historic Site.  

 

 

- (Scene of Archology survey) Mr. Nobutane Chiba, World Heritage Promotion Office, Hiraizumi-cho

 

At Chusonji, everyone pays attention to the buildings and artistically crafted items represented by Konjikido. However, one more important thing is that various kinds of archaeological remains from the Heian period including temples are buried under the ground of Chusonji. This is related to the fact that everything inside the temple’s perimeter is designated a Special Historic Site.  

 

 

- Mr. Myokyu Fujisato, Executive Director

 

This temple has a “Pure Land Garden”, the oldest Japanese garden still in its original form.
It is notable for incorporating the natural scenery in each spot, using nature as a motif. 

 

(Pure Land Garden - Pond)
Simply put, this pond expresses the sea. This wave-washed beach represents a sandy beach, and this rock expresses the appearance of the shore.  

 

(Pure Land Garden - yarimizu, freeder stream)
The feeder stream (yarimizu) on the far side of the garden represents a river, from a rushing stream flowing into flat land and finally emptying into the sea. It expresses the whole of a natural flow. 

 

Hiraizumi is not only a place where Buddhist culture prospered, but also a place where politics centered on Buddhism was conducted with a focus on peace more than 800 years ago. 

 

I believe it is important for people to understand that Hiraizumi rocketed to popularity without losing such spiritual stature, and there are gardens and buildings with this kind of spirituality as background. 

 

 

- Mr. Nobutane Chiba, World Heritage Promotion Office, Hiraizumi-cho

 

The Hiraizumi culture, which was established by the Oshu-Fujiwara family, provides the local people with some spiritual support. The fact that the culture showed its peak in this locality, not in Kyoto, gives them confidence. This has important meaning in strengthening their identity. 

 

What is “town development” which respects the constituent heritage of Hiraizumi? How should we utilize the Fujiwaras’ view of the world which was regarded as ideal?  

 

We wonder why the Oshu-Fujiwara family chose this place to be their base. By making such natural landscape and geographic elements more visible, we can express the uniqueness of this place. This is a hidden benefit of becoming World Heritage inscription.  

 

 

- Mr. Takuya Tasso, Governor of Iwate prefecture

 

I hope that people around the world will not only recognize the beauty and the artistic value represented by Konjikido and Pure Land Garden, but will also accept its philosophy including prayers for peace and harmony with nature.