Iya - No

It refers to the Iya River and Matsuo River basins in the upper reaches of the Yoshino River in the western part of Tokushima Prefecture. The Matsuo River basin is also called Little Iya. Administratively, it refers to the southern half of Miyoshi City (formerly Higashi-Iyayama Village and formerly Nishi-Iyayama Village). It is a typical isolated village with an entire family. The Iya River flows west to Zentoku in Nishi-Iyayama Village, Miyoshi City, forming a vertical valley, then flows north to form a V-shaped horizontal valley. The deep valley of the Iya Valley stretches for 10 kilometers and has been isolated from the outside world for a long time, making it a hidden rice paddy settlement of the Heike clan and a secluded area. After the Iyayama Rebellion from 1585 (Tensho 13) to 1590, it came under the control of the Hachisuka clan. The clan established a mandokoro (administrative office) and eight families had mansions under its control. Old customs remain, and there are many traditional cultures unique to Iya, such as the Kaitsuri event on the 14th of the New Year, the system of godfathers and retirement, and the custom of mutual assistance called Yui (Ii). The secluded nature of Iya can also be seen in taboo words and the Jindai Dance (a nationally designated important intangible folk cultural property). The history and culture of Iya are introduced at the Higashi Iya History and Folklore Museum and the Heike Yashiki Folklore Museum. The Vine Bridge, a nationally designated important tangible folk cultural property, is a suspension bridge over the Iya River, 45 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 15 meters high above the water. It is made of white vine, and it is said that such bridges were commonly seen in Iya and Kitou in the past. Iya was connected to the lowlands of the Yoshino River basin via Kojima Pass, Sajiki Pass, and Mizunokuchi Pass, but in the early Taisho period a road was completed along the Iya River. In 1974, a toll road was opened from Oboke in the west (opened to the public in 1998, major regional road Nishi-Iyayama Yamashiro Line). Buckwheat, barnyard millet, konjac, and other crops are produced here, and Mitsumata is also cultivated. "Iya" has a related etymology to "oya" and "respect," and the area is a place of ancestral worship.

[Takagi Hideki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

徳島県西部、吉野川上流部の祖谷川および松尾川流域をいう。また松尾川流域は小祖谷(おいや)とよばれる。行政的には三好(みよし)市の南半部（旧、東祖谷山村。旧、西祖谷山村）の範囲をさす。典型的な挙家(きょか)離村。祖谷川は三好市西祖谷山村の善徳(ぜんとく)までは西流して縦谷をなし、次いで北流してV字形の横谷をつくる。祖谷渓の深い谷は10キロメートルに及び、長い間外部を隔絶し、平家一族の隠田集落(おんでんしゅうらく)とされ秘境をなしてきた。1585年（天正13）から1590年の祖谷山一揆(いっき)ののち蜂須賀(はちすか)氏の支配を受けるようになった。藩は政所(まんどころ)を置き、配下に8家の御屋敷(おやしき)を置いた。古い慣習を残しており、正月14日のカイツリの行事、名付け親や隠居の制度、ユイ（イイ）とよばれる相互扶助のしきたりなど、祖谷特有の伝承文化が多い。また、忌みことばや神代踊(じんだいおどり)（国指定重要無形民俗文化財）にも秘境性をのぞくことができる。東祖谷歴史民俗資料館、平家屋敷民俗資料館では祖谷の歴史や文化が紹介されている。国指定重要有形民俗文化財の蔓橋(かずらばし)は祖谷川に架かる吊橋(つりばし)で、全長45メートル、幅1.5メートル、水面からの高さ15メートル。シラクチカズラでつくられているが、かつてはこうした橋が、祖谷や木頭(きとう)で多くみられたという。祖谷と吉野川流域低地とは、小島峠、桟敷(さじき)峠、水ノ口(みずのくち)峠で連絡していたが、大正初期に祖谷川に沿う街道が完成した。また1974年（昭和49）西方の大歩危(おおぼけ)からの有料道路（1998年無料開放、主要地方道西祖谷山山城線）が開通した。ソバ、ヒエ、コンニャクなどを産し、ミツマタの栽培も行われる。「いや」は、おや、うやまうと関連した語源で、祖霊信仰の土地である。

［高木秀樹］

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