Shikoku region - Shikoku

Japanese: 四国地方 - しこくちほう

Located southwest of Honshu, Shikoku and its islands are part of the eight regional divisions of Japan. To the east, it is separated from the Kinki region by the Naruto Strait and Kii Channel, to the west by the Hoyo Strait and Bungo Channel by the Kyushu region, to the north by the Seto Inland Sea by the Chugoku region, and to the south it faces the Pacific Ocean. Shikoku is the fourth largest island in Japan, and in ancient times it consisted of four provinces: Awa, Sanuki, Iyo, and Tosa. After the Meiji period, these four provinces became the four prefectures of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. The islands in the Seto Inland Sea include Shodo Island, most of the Bisan Islands, the Geiyo Islands, and parts of the Boyo Islands, as well as islands scattered across the Uwa Sea.

It has an area of 18,805 square kilometers, about 5% of the nation's total (2006), and a population of 4,086,457, or about 3.2% of the nation's total (2005), with a population density of 217 people per square kilometer. The central part of the prefecture is largely occupied by the Shikoku Mountains, and there are many depopulated areas. Prefectural characteristics are roughly divided into inland sea type and open sea type, with the inland sea type of Kagawa Prefecture and the Toyo region of Ehime Prefecture being mild-mannered, not fond of conflict, and tending to imitate and pander. However, they are cooperative and well suited to leading the way. On the other hand, the open sea type of Kochi Prefecture and the southern part of Ehime Prefecture are known for their "Igosso" (a term used to describe the open sea type), and tend to push through with their own beliefs.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

Nature

The topography of Shikoku is divided into north and south by the Median Tectonic Line, a major fault line. The Median Tectonic Line runs west along the Kinokawa River on the Kii Peninsula, then disappears into the Kii Channel, landing in Tokushima in eastern Shikoku, running along the Yoshino River at the southern foot of the Sanuki Mountains, passing through the northern foot of the Ishizuchi Mountains, passing through the Sadamisaki Peninsula and the Bungo Channel before exiting Kyushu. The area north of the Median Tectonic Line is called the Inner Zone, and the area south of it is called the Outer Zone. The areas in the Inner Zone are the Sanuki Peninsula, which consists of the Sanuki Mountains and the Sanuki Plain, the Takanawa Peninsula in the northwest, and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The Sanuki Mountains, with Mount Ryuo (1,060 meters) at its highest peak, are made up of alternating layers of Izumi sandstone and shale from the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era. The Sanuki Plain, which spreads out to the north of the Sanuki Mountains, is an alluvial plain created by erosion and deposition from small rivers originating from the Sanuki Mountains. Because of the low amount of rainfall, reservoirs for irrigation have been built since ancient times, giving the plain a unique landscape. The Takanawa Peninsula, with its main peak Higashi-Mikata-ga-mori (1,233 meters), is also composed of Izumi Formation rocks.

The Outer Zone is dominated by the steep Shikoku Mountains, which are mainly composed of sedimentary rocks. From north to south, the Shikoku Mountains consist of the Ishizuchi Mountains, the Tsurugi Mountains, the Ado Mountains, the Kasatori Torigata Mountains, the Nanyo Hata Mountains, and the Chuyo Mountains. The northern side of the Ishizuchi and Tsurugi Mountains is characterized by typical fault topography caused by the Median Tectonic Line. The Tokushima Plain lies downstream of the Yoshino River, the Matsuyama Plain lies downstream of the Shigenobu River, and the Kochi Plain lies downstream of the Monobe and Niyodo Rivers, and each of these forms the center of the prefecture. From north to south, the Outer Zone consists of the Sanbagawa Belt of crystalline schist, followed by Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic strata in the order of belt-like strata. The crystalline schist belt is particularly rich in beautiful rocks unique to metamorphic rocks, but due to excessive mining by garden stone dealers in the upper reaches of the Yoshino River and the Dozan River basin, it is currently prohibited to take them out. This layer of rock is prone to collapse and is well known as a landslide zone. Farming villages on the slopes along the Oboke, Koboke and Iya River have suffered damage such as tilted houses and collapsed farmland. In addition, construction of the Tosan Main Line, National Route 32, and the tunnels on the Kochi Expressway have been completed after difficult construction work.

Northern Shikoku has a Seto Inland Sea type climate, with warm temperatures and little rainfall, and few climatic disasters such as typhoons. However, the northwesterly winter monsoon is surprisingly strong, and thick fog often occurs from early spring to early summer, severely affecting sea and air traffic. The Seto Inland Sea is also characterized by the morning and evening calms, which occur when the daytime sea breezes and the nighttime land breezes give way to windless conditions that make for unbearable humidity. Southern Shikoku has a Southern Sea type climate, which is a Pacific type, with hot and humid summers and heavy rains from typhoons, so the annual precipitation in Kochi City is more than double that of Takamatsu City. Taking advantage of this heat, double rice cropping is widespread. Winters are also mild, so forcing vegetable cultivation is popular.

Annual precipitation in southern Shikoku, such as the Yanase area of Kochi Prefecture, reaches 5,000 mm, but on the Seto Inland Sea side it is only a little over 1,000 mm. Moreover, because the watershed is biased to the north, most of the precipitation flows out to Kochi or Tokushima. Therefore, southern Shikoku has relatively large rivers such as the Shimanto River, Niyodo River, and Yoshino River, and although it suffers from frequent floods, it is also blessed with abundant water resources. On the other hand, northern Shikoku only has small rivers and has traditionally suffered from water shortages. Southern Shikoku is rich in vegetation and has many beautiful natural forests, but bare mountains are prominent on the Seto Inland Sea side.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

industry

Looking at the employment rate by industry in Shikoku (1995), primary industry accounts for 13.4%, which is considerably higher than the national average of 7.1%, and plays a major role as a food supply base. Agricultural production is 5.3% of the national total (1993), which is higher than the national average, and is third only to the Tohoku region and Hokkaido in terms of region. In particular, forced cultivation in greenhouses and vinyl houses is popular in Kochi Prefecture, and direct shipments are made to Tokyo and Osaka markets by ferry boats and the Seto Ohashi Bridge. It has the typical characteristics of suburban agriculture, with large amounts of bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, watermelons, and other produce shipped out of season in organized large quantities. Since the Edo period, Kochi Prefecture has grown rice twice a year, but this has recently decreased due to national production adjustments, and the production value of vegetables and fruits now exceeds that of rice.

Ehime Prefecture, famous for its terraced fields, is known for its fruit cultivation, and is the number one producer of mandarin oranges, summer mandarins, and iyokan, far exceeding its rice production. However, in recent years, farmers have been struggling with falling prices due to overproduction. Tokushima Prefecture's sudachi and Kagawa Prefecture's bonsai are also distinctive.

Southern Shikoku has a warm climate and a lot of rain, and is home to many beautiful forests such as Japanese cedars. In particular, Kitou in Tokushima Prefecture and Yanase in Kochi Prefecture are known as forestry areas. As by-products of forestry, Mitsumata and Kozo, which are the raw materials for Japanese paper, are widely produced, with Ehime and Kochi Prefectures accounting for more than half of the national production.

In 1995, the total catch of the four Shikoku prefectures was 460,675 tons, accounting for 4.3% of the total catch in Japan. The Setouchi region is mainly used for the cultivation of seaweed, wakame seaweed, yellowtail, sea bream, and flounder, but it is often damaged by red tides. Line-and-line fishing of bonito off the coast of Tosa is famous, but longline fishing has become more common in recent years. Tuna fishing is also popular in the coastal and deep seas, with most of the catch landed at Yaizu Port (Shizuoka Prefecture). The seafood processing industry is also well known, with bonito flakes processed in Tosa and Tosashimizu in Kochi Prefecture, and bonito flakes called "hana katsuo" in Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture. Ehime Prefecture boasts the highest pearl cultivation in the country.

Due to the geology of Shikoku, mineral resources are scarce, and traditionally there is nothing to be seen other than copper ore and limestone. Mining has been carried out since the mid-Edo period, and the Besshi Copper Mine in Ehime Prefecture, which was counted as one of the three largest copper mines in Japan, closed in 1973.

In Shikoku, the Toyo region and the Tokushima coastal area have been designated as new industrial cities, but they have not developed as expected. The value of Shikoku's product shipments accounts for only 2.7% of the national total. In the Toyo region, the heavy machinery, chemical, and aluminum complexes in Niihama and Saijo, mainly run by Sumitomo, are the leading industries in Shikoku. Recently, water-based industries such as semiconductors and beer have been moving into Saijo. Pulp and paper industries are concentrated in the Kawanoe and Iyomishima areas of Shikokuchuo City. At the mouth of the Yoshino River in Tokushima Prefecture, chemical industrial parks such as those of Toa Gosei, Toho Tenax (formerly Toho Rayon), Nisshin Boseki, Shikoku Kasei, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical are located, taking advantage of the abundant groundwater and surface water. The Bannosu complex in Kagawa Prefecture is home to Kawasaki Heavy Industries' shipbuilding, Mitsubishi's coke, and YKK. The Matsuyama coastal area is home to Teijin and Maruzen petroleum and chemical fiber complexes, while the Kochi coastal area is home to cement and electrochemical factories.

Modern industries in Shikoku are mostly equipment-based and raw material processing-based industries, and many of them belong to the structural recession industry category. On the other hand, there are many types of local industries, but they are also in a difficult situation due to the worsening export environment. Industries designated as "traditional craft industries" include lacquerware such as Kinma and Zokoku lacquerware in Kagawa Prefecture, fans in Marugame City, shijira weaving, Awa washi paper, Tosa washi paper in Kochi Prefecture, Ozu washi paper and Tobe ware in Ehime Prefecture, and are relatively stable thanks to their special techniques. Other representative local industries include dressing tables and chests in Tokushima City, gloves in Higashikagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture, buttons in Okawa Town, Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture, soy sauce from Shodo Island, towels and sewing products in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, and mizuhiki and papermaking in Shikokuchuo City.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

traffic

The first railway in Shikoku was the Iyotetsu Line, which was laid between Mitsuhama and Matsuyama in 1888 (Meiji 21). The following year, the Sanuki Railway opened between Marugame and Kotohira. In 1927 (Showa 2), the Japanese National Railways (now JR) completed the Yosan Line between Takamatsu and Matsuyama, and in 1935 the Kotoku Line between Takamatsu and Tokushima, and the Dosan Line between Takamatsu and Kochi. Currently, it is linked to Honshu by the Honshi-Bisan Line, which crosses the Great Seto Bridge. Plans for a Shikoku circular railway were thwarted, but the western half of Shikoku is still connected by the JR Dosan Line and Yosan Line via the Yodo Line, and further on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway runs to Nakamura. In the eastern half, following the JR Takatoku Line and Mugi Line, the Asa Kaigan Railway's Kaifu-Kannoura section opened as a third-sector project in 1992 (Heisei 4).

Roads were connected to Honshu in 1988 with the completion of the Kojima-Sakaide route of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge. The Kobe-Naruto route was opened in 1998, and the Onomichi-Imabari route in 1999. Within Shikoku, in addition to the so-called V-shaped trunk roads of Routes 11, 32, and 33, the W route of Routes 55 and 56, which run through the coastal areas, has been paved and improved, making it possible to travel around Shikoku in comfort by car. Furthermore, the highway network is also improving, with the opening of the Shikoku Longitudinal Expressway and the partial opening of the Shikoku Cross-Island Expressway. The road paving and improvement rates of the three prefectures other than Kagawa are both extremely poor. In particular, these three prefectures are in the lowest group in the nation for improvement rate.

In addition to long-distance ferries connecting Tokyo with Tokushima and Kochi, there are numerous short and medium-distance ferries. There are also many medium-distance ferries between the opposite shore and the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Oita, and Wakayama, and from the Shikoku prefectures to Hanshin. However, after the construction of the Great Seto Bridge, some of these ferries suffered major damage, and with the opening of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in 1998, many ferries went out of business or downsized. There are four airports in Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, and Kochi, all of which are serviced by jet planes.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

development

Development projects in Shikoku are mainly transportation-related. The first was the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge, with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Great Seto Bridge on the Kojima-Sakaid route held in 1978 (Showa 53) and opening in 1988. The Kobe-Naruto route (Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway) was fully opened in April 1998 (Heisei 10), and the Onomichi-Imabari route (West Seto Expressway = Setouchi Shimanami Kaido) in May 1999. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Shikoku Trunk Expressway was held in 1980 in Kawanoe City (now Shikoku Chuo City), where the two routes intersect in a figure-eight shape, and construction began on 462 kilometers of transverse highways and 224 kilometers of longitudinal highways. As of 1995, the utilization rate was 32.3%. Nuclear power generation is already in use in Ikata-cho, Ehime Prefecture, but no decision has been made on other candidate sites due to mixed opinions among local residents. At the end of fiscal 1997, nuclear power accounted for 43% of Shikoku's electricity (compared to the amount of electricity generated and received), and this proportion is gradually increasing.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

population

The first census was conducted in 1920 (Taisho 9), when the population of Shikoku was 3,065,643, accounting for 5.5% of the national total. In the 2005 (Heisei 17) census, the population was 4,086,457, 3.2% of the national total, with a population density of 217. Looking at the population changes after World War II, the highest was 4,245,000 in 1955 (Showa 30) (4.8% of the national total), and the lowest was 3,904,000 in 1970 (3.7%). In other words, the population of Shikoku increased rapidly due to evacuation during World War II, but during the period of high economic growth in the 1960s, the population flowed to large cities, resulting in a decrease of 317,000 people in the 10 years up to 1970. This resulted in a wave of depopulation, mainly in the Shikoku Mountains.

Of the four prefectures, Kagawa was the first to experience a population increase after 1970, rising from a low of 901,000 in 1965 before topping one million in December 1980. Ehime was next, with its population increasing to a low of 1,418,000 in 1970. Kochi and Tokushima prefectures also bottomed out in 1970 and began to increase from 1975, but looking at the year by year, Ehime's population began to increase from 1971, while Kochi and Tokushima's began to increase from 1974, and even then the increase was extremely small. From 1990, the three prefectures except Kagawa began to decline again. According to the 1970 census, the number of towns and villages with a population decline rate of 10% or more was 0 in Kagawa, 12 in Tokushima, and 17 each in Ehime and Kochi, but in 1995 there were 0 in Kagawa, 4 in Tokushima, 14 in Ehime, and 3 in Kochi, with Ehime showing the largest decline. In terms of the bottoming out of population outflow, it can be said that the period of stable growth was a positive for Shikoku.

The high rate of the elderly population aged 65 and over is a problem, with Kochi ranking 3rd in the nation, Tokushima 8th, Ehime 12th, and Kagawa 18th, and dealing with the issue of the elderly will be a major issue for the four Shikoku prefectures in the future. On the other hand, this means a low birth rate, which is low except for Kagawa Prefecture, and naturally the death rate is also high, with Kochi Prefecture ranking 2nd in the nation and others ranking high (2005).

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

history

Paleolithic artifacts have been found in all four prefectures, proving that humans have been living there since the Pre-Pottery period. In the Bronze Age cultural zone, numerous bronze bells, bronze swords, and bronze spears have been discovered in the three prefectures of Kagawa, Tokushima, and Kochi, showing that the area was on the border between the Yamato and Kitakyushu cultures. 41 bronze bells have been discovered in Tokushima, which is the largest number in the country. In March 1998, a 7th century copy of the Analects of Confucius and a wooden tablet related to taxes were discovered at the site of the Awa Kokufu, and these are attracting attention as some of the oldest in Japan. Ehime seems to have belonged to the Kitakyushu cultural zone, but bronze spears have been found in Nanyo, and bronze swords in Chuyo and Toyo, showing the cultural zone being subdivided. Many large keyhole-shaped burial mounds have been found in Ehime, and many have been found in Kagawa. Many small circular burial mounds are found in Kochi. It can be said that the level of culture and wealth of the powerful clans at that time was biased towards the Seto Inland Sea side. Under the Ritsuryo system, it belonged to the Nankaido, one of the five provinces and seven roads.

The whole of Shikoku was a place of exile, but Kochi in particular was a place where many nobles shed tears of despair whenever political upheaval occurred in the central government. The Tosa Diary by Tosa no Kuni no Kami Ki no Tsurayuki describes his experiences on the sea route back to Kyoto, but the voyages of the time were harsh, with pirates lurking about. Among the pirates, the rebellion of former Iyo no Jō Fujiwara no Sumitomo, who was active from Hiburi Island in the Uwa Sea, is famous as the Jōhei-Tengyō Rebellion.

Medieval Shikoku was a time of turmoil, but the Hosokawa clan, who served as the shugo (military governor) of the Muromachi Shogunate, wielded power in Sanuki, Awa, and Tosa. Later, the Miyoshi clan of Awa defeated the Hosokawa clan and advanced into Sanuki. In Tosa, the Chosokabe clan gained power, and at the end of the Warring States period, under Motochika, they raised an army to pacify Shikoku in one fell swoop, and by the spring of 1585 (Tensho 13), they had almost all of Shikoku under their control. In Iyo at the time, the Saionji clan of Nanyo and the Kono clan of Chuyo and Toyo were powerful, but both of them surrendered to Motochika's army. However, in July of the same year, the Chosokabe clan surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who raised an army to conquer Shikoku, and came to control the entire province of Tosa. Awa was ruled by the Hachisuka clan, Sanuki by the Sengoku clan, and Iyo by the Kobayakawa clan. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tosa became the domain of the Yamauchi clan. Of these, Tosa (240,000 koku, 200,000 koku under the red seal law) and Awa (260,000 koku) remained as one province and one domain until the Meiji era, but Sanuki was first owned by the Ikoma clan, and was then divided into two: the Matsudaira clan of Takamatsu Domain (120,000 koku) and the Kyogoku clan of Marugame Domain (60,000 koku). The Kyogoku-Marugame Domain later branched off from the Tadotsu Domain (10,000 koku). Iyo saw the most complex changes, and after many twists and turns, was eventually divided into eight domains. The Kawanoe and Besshi regions were made into a shogunate territory by eight domains: the Matsudaira (Hisamatsu) clan of Matsuyama with 150,000 koku, the Imabari domain with 35,000 koku, the Date clan of Uwajima with 100,000 koku, the Yoshida domain with 30,000 koku, the Kato clan of Ozu with 60,000 koku, the Niiya domain with 10,000 koku, the Matsudaira clan of Saijo with 30,000 koku, and the Hitotsuyanagi clan of Komatsu with 10,000 koku. The subdivision of Iyo caused financial difficulties for each domain, and the imposition of high annual taxes, known as Nanatsumen (meaning 70% of the village tax), led to frequent peasant uprisings.

From the end of the Edo period, Tosa was at the center of Shikoku. It produced Sakamoto Ryoma, Nakaoka Shintaro and others as vanguards of the Sonno Joi (revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians) movement, and feudal lord Yamauchi Toyoshige took the lead in returning the domain and title to the Emperor. In contrast, Awa, Sanuki and Iyo struggled to respond to the Meiji Restoration and continued to be in turmoil. Even in the Meiji period, Tosa became famous throughout the country as the birthplace of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. Itagaki Taisuke and the Rishisha movement led Japan at the time and became the driving force behind the establishment of the National Diet. The main player in the dawn of modern Japan was the exiled land of Tosa. The Tosa people's bold spirit was on full display.

During the feudal era, Shikoku's specialty products included Sanuki Sanpaku salt, cotton, sugar, Awa indigo, Iyo cotton, and Tosa washi paper, but these products rapidly declined after the Meiji period. However, Sanuki salt continued to develop under the monopoly system, and Iyo cotton was taken over by the towel industry in Imabari.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

Folklore

The belief in Kobo Daishi (Kobo Daishi) is what has shaped the unique culture and folklore of Shikoku along the coast. In spring and autumn, travellers are offered tea and sweets in the hope of receiving the blessings of the deity, a custom known as osettai (hospitality), which can be seen all over the country. The various legends that tell of the hardships and hardships surrounding the founding of the temples and shrines dedicated to Kobo Daishi, and his merits, are representative of Shikoku legends, and in the mountain villages of Tokushima, Kochi and Ehime, there are open-air Daishi halls called chado (tea halls) in each village, forming a unique custom.

Awa puppet theater is one of the origins of puppet theater in Japan. Based on the idea of gods visiting from across the sea, this puppet theater was combined with the belief in prayers for a good catch of fish and left its mark on the Shikoku coast. It continued to serve as entertainment in fishing villages until the end of the Meiji period.

The Heike legend cuts Shikoku in two and cuts it across. According to legend, after losing the Battle of Yashima, the Heike clan carried Emperor Antoku into the Shikoku Mountains, reaching the western edge of Ehime Prefecture, leaving behind several temporary residences and tombs along the way. The most famous of these are Iyadani in Miyoshi County, Tokushima Prefecture, and Yokokurayama in Ochi Town, Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture. The story that Emperor Antoku continued to travel secretly across the Shikoku Mountains even after he drowned himself is thought to have been mediated by mountain ascetics from Shikoku, whose peaks are Mount Tsurugi and Mount Ishizuchi. Another notable feature of the Shikoku Mountains is that many of the local folklore and customs, such as tales of strange happenings in the mountains, stories of the origins of place names, stories of settlement development, houses that don't pound rice cakes on New Year's Day, and houses that don't put up kadomatsu pine decorations, are derived from the legends of the Heike clan. These mountainous areas also feature Kagura dances performed by mountain ascetics, and many folklore about woodworkers, while the Tsurugi Mountain Range, Ishizuchi Mountain Range, and Kuroson River Basin are rich in bear hunting customs, which are considered the most important of all hunting customs, and their beliefs. These customs show influences from Shugen, Onmyoji, Yoshida Shinto, Kumano faith, and other traditions.

The Shikoku Mountains bring about natural weather with heavy rainfall in southern Shikoku and little rainfall in northern Shikoku, and this is also reflected in Shikoku's livelihoods and the customs that accompany them. Northern Shikoku has many reservoirs and is a prominent area of rain-making beliefs. Bell and drum dances, which were originally Bon festival performance arts, are dedicated to praying for rain, but in southern Shikoku the same Bon festival performance arts have undergone a transformation to be dedicated in celebration of a good autumn harvest. Even in folk customs, southern Shikoku has many houses built with white walls that use lime produced in the foothills, which prevents the walls from collapsing due to wind and rain, and also has low eaves. In contrast, northern Shikoku has many houses with mud walls and high eaves that allow ample sunlight in.

The geographical differences between the inland seas of northern Shikoku and the open seas of southern Shikoku also show differences in fishing methods, between inland sea fishing and offshore fishing, and fishing organization customs have developed along the coast of southern Shikoku, which requires more cooperative work. The differences in the appearance of the inland sea and the open sea can also be seen in festival customs, and many ceremonies in which boats are floated on the sea to offer prayers to the spirits of ancestors are held in the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, such as the Bon Odori Boat and Isa Dance on the Miura Peninsula in Uwajima City, and the Boat Dance and Kaidenma at Wakehime Shrine in Gogo Island, Matsuyama City. On the coasts of southern Shikoku, where the waves crash, carts carrying Hachiman boats are a common sight as they pass through town and along the approach to shrines.

Konpira faith is something that unites the four Shikoku prefectures. In the Seto Inland Sea, where the shipping industry is thriving, the custom of floating barrels can be seen, and is linked to prayers for safety at sea. In southern Shikoku, the custom is linked to prayers for rice cultivation and safety in the home, and Konpira societies are formed, and the knowledge and experiences gained through these societies also played a role in spreading the customs.

One example of a regional characteristic is Warei Shrine (Uwajima City), which enshrines Yanbe Seibei, a samurai of the Uwajima domain who died an untimely death. In western Shikoku, this belief in the spirit of the deity intertwines with the belief in Wakamiya, which worships the eldest son who died young, and there is a strong presence of household and ancestral deities. The dual grave system can also be seen on the coast and islands of Kagawa Prefecture, and around Kaiyo Town, Kaifu County, Tokushima Prefecture. Burial graves are called Stebaka and Sanmai, and pilgrimage graves are called Ogamibaka and Sekitoba, and a similar grave system exists in Wakayama Prefecture, indicating connections with Kishu.

[Takagi Hiroo]

Folktales

The oldest oral sources in the Shikoku region are the "West Sanuki Folktales Collection" and "Awa Iya Mountain Folktales" from the 1930s. The "Tosa Folktales Collection," which was later expanded and revised based on the collection from that time, also records relatively earlier traditions.

There are many funny stories in the Shikoku region. And in Shikoku, the best storytellers of folk tales tend to be men. It is said that in most cases, it was men who entertained guests around the fireplace, and historically, storytelling was maintained by groups of men at village gatherings and mountain work lodges. The remarkable phenomenon of Shikoku folk tales being turned into laughs is likely directly linked to these customs and ways of life. The stories of this region have become established as everyday talk, and are passed down in conjunction with the humorous behavior of real people, which can be said to be roughly how they are.

There are many examples in Shikoku where the protagonists of folk tales actually existed. Sometimes the same person is also the narrator. The story of Taisaku from Tosa is a typical example. Taisaku has descendants and a real graveyard. As a fishmonger, salt seller, and cotton seller, Taisaku's name remains in various parts of Shikoku as a man who would deceive people and display his wit at the various places he traveled. Local people called such fools "tenkuro." Other characters who appear in comedic stories include Hanshichi, Yohachi, Kiza-san, and Yonekura. What these people have in common is that they worked as traveling merchants, farm servants, or payday agents.

Shikoku has long been known as the land of the pilgrimage, and has welcomed pilgrims and ascetics from various regions. Many of the folklore brought by these people has become established. Some of the 88 temples in Shikoku have old tales that have become the legends of the temple or shrine. Some well-known stories include the treasure tenugui (hand towel), the charcoal-burning millionaire, and the cat parishioner. Furthermore, areas bordering the sea have a history of welcoming boatmen waiting for the right tide or wind. In the Seto Inland Sea, there are also stories left behind by Kitamae ships from the Edo period.

[Junichi Nomura]

Daimeido Editorial Department, eds., New Japanese Geography Seminar 6, Chugoku and Shikoku Region (1987, Daimeido) ▽ Fudoki Nihon 2, Chugoku and Shikoku Edition (1960, Heibonsha) ▽ Japanese Geography 6, Chugoku and Shikoku Edition (1962, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ Japanese Geography Institute, eds., Japanese Geography Volume 18, Shikoku Region (1981, Ninomiya Shoten) ▽ Illustrated Japanese Cultural Geography Series 3, Shikoku (1961, Shogakukan) ▽ Shikoku's Climate and History, by Yamamoto Dai and Tanaka Toshio (1977, Yamakawa Publishing) ▽ Amino Yoshihiko et al., eds., Japanese Folk Culture Series, 14 volumes, supplementary volume 1 (1994, Shogakukan)

Chugoku/Shikoku Region Topography
©Shogakukan Illustration/Shogakukan Creative ">

Chugoku/Shikoku Region Topography

Shikoku Region Location Map
©Shogakukan Illustration/Shogakukan Creative ">

Shikoku Region Location Map

Mount Tsurugi
View from the north. Tsurugiyama Quasi-National Park. Miyoshi City, Mima City, Naka Town, Naka District, Tokushima Prefecture ©Tokushima Prefecture ">

Mount Tsurugi

Oboke
Tsurugiyama Quasi-National Park. Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture ©Tokushima Prefecture ">

Oboke

Mannoike Pond
Mannou Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture ©Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association

Mannoike Pond

Besshi Copper Mine Site
The remains of the cableway station in the Tonohira area. Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture © Ehime Prefecture Tourism and Products Association

Besshi Copper Mine Site

Iyotetsu No. 1 Locomotive
This was the first of 12 locomotives imported from Germany by Iyo Railway in 1888 (Meiji 21). It is the oldest surviving light locomotive in Japan. It was in use until 1954 (Showa 29) and is affectionately known as the "Botchan Ressha." Railway Monument (designated in 1967) Baishuji Park, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture © Iyo Railway ">

Iyotetsu No. 1 Locomotive

Bisan Seto and the Great Seto Bridge
A view from Mt. Washu, Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, at the southern tip of the Kojima Peninsula. The Great Seto Bridge (Kojima-Sakaide Route of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge) spans the area. Setonaikai National Park. Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture / Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture ©Ministry of the Environment ">

Bisan Seto and the Great Seto Bridge

Onaruto Bridge
The view from the Ogeshima side of Naruto City. Awaji Island is on the opposite shore. Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture and Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture ©Tokushima Prefecture ">

Onaruto Bridge

Tatara Bridge
A view from the vicinity of Cape Tatara on Omishima Island. In the background is Mount Kannon on Ikuchijima Island. Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture / Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture © Hiroshima Prefecture ">

Tatara Bridge

Awa Jyurobei House
Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture ©Tokushima Prefecture ">

Awa Jyurobei House

Nannogawa Iwato Kagura (Nannogawa Iwato Kagura)
One of the "Tosa Kagura" dances. Nationally designated important intangible folk cultural property. Niyodogawa Town, Agawa County, Kochi Prefecture . ©Kochi Prefectural Tourism and Convention Association .

Nannogawa Iwato Kagura (Nannogawa Iwato Kagura)

Kotohira Shrine
Main shrine worship hall. Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture ©Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association

Kotohira Shrine

Warei Shrine
Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture © Ehime Prefecture Tourism and Products Association

Warei Shrine

Kagawa lacquerware
The two in the foreground and the center in the back are konjiki. The two on the left and right in the back are zosei (zosei). ©Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association

Kagawa lacquerware

Marugame fan
©Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Marugame fan

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

本州の南西に位置する四国とその属島からなる地域で、日本8地方区分の一つ。東は鳴門(なると)海峡、紀伊水道を隔てて近畿地方と、西は豊予(ほうよ)海峡、豊後(ぶんご)水道を隔てて九州地方と、北は瀬戸内海を隔てて中国地方と相対し、南は太平洋に面している。四国は日本第四の島で、古くは阿波(あわ)、讃岐(さぬき)、伊予、土佐の4か国からなり、明治以降、それら4国はそれぞれ徳島、香川、愛媛、高知の4県となった。属島には瀬戸内海の小豆(しょうど)島、備讃(びさん)諸島の大部分、芸予諸島、防予諸島の一部のほか、宇和海に点在する島々がある。

　面積1万8805平方キロメートルで全国の約5％（2006）、人口408万6457人で全国の約3.2％にあたり（2005）、人口密度は1平方キロメートル当り217人である。中心部を広く四国山地が占めており過疎地が多い。県民性はおおむね内海型と外洋型に分かれ、内海型の香川県や愛媛県の東予地方は性温順で争いを好まず、模倣や迎合の傾向がある。そのかわり協調性に富み、まとめ役に適している。一方、外洋型の高知県や愛媛県南部の地方は、「いごっそう」の名で知られるように、自分の信念を押し通すところがある。

［坂口良昭］

自然

四国の地形は大断層線の中央構造線によって南北に二分される。紀伊半島を紀ノ川に沿って西走し紀伊水道に没した中央構造線は、四国東部の徳島に上陸し、讃岐(さぬき)山脈の南麓(なんろく)を吉野川沿いに走り、石鎚(いしづち)山脈の北麓を通って佐田岬半島から豊後(ぶんご)水道を経て九州へ抜ける。この中央構造線の北側を内帯、南側を外帯とよぶ。内帯の地域は、讃岐山脈と讃岐平野からなる讃岐半島と、北西部の高縄(たかなわ)半島、それに瀬戸内海の島々である。讃岐山脈は竜王山(りゅうおうざん)（1060メートル）を最高峰とし、中生代白亜紀の和泉(いずみ)砂岩、頁岩(けつがん)の互層からなる。讃岐山脈の北に広がる讃岐平野は、讃岐山脈に発する小河川の侵食と堆積(たいせき)による沖積平野で、降水量が少ないため、古くから灌漑(かんがい)用の溜池(ためいけ)がつくられ、独特の景観をみせている。東三方ヶ森(ひがしさんぽうがもり)（1233メートル）を主峰とする高縄半島も和泉層岩で構成されている。

　外帯は、水成岩を主体とする高峻(こうしゅん)な四国山地が占める。四国山地は北から石鎚山脈、剣(つるぎ)山地、阿土(あど)山地、笠取鳥形(かさとりとりがた)山地、南予幡多(はた)山地、中予山地からなる。石鎚、剣両山地の北側は中央構造線によって標式的断層地形をなしている。吉野川下流に徳島平野、重信(しげのぶ)川下流に松山平野、物部(ものべ)川・仁淀(によど)川下流には高知平野があり、それぞれ県の中心地となっている。外帯は、北から結晶片岩の三波川(さんばがわ)帯、古生層、中生層、新生層の順で帯状に地層が並んでいる。なかでも結晶片岩帯は変成岩特有の美しい岩石が多く、吉野川上流や銅山(どうざん)川流域などで庭石業者が乱掘したので、現在持ち出しが禁止されている。この地層は崩れやすく、地すべり帯としてよく知られている。大歩危(おおぼけ)、小歩危(こぼけ)や祖谷(いや)川沿岸の傾斜地にある農村は、家が傾いたり、農地の崩壊などの被害を被っている。また土讃本線や国道32号、さらに高知自動車道のトンネル工事なども難工事のすえに完成した。

　北四国の気候は瀬戸内海型で温暖少雨型で、台風などの気候災害も少ない。しかし、冬の北西季節風は意外と強く、また春先から初夏にかけて濃霧が発生することが多く、海や空の交通への影響が甚大である。また瀬戸内の特徴的なものに朝凪(なぎ)・夕凪現象がある。昼の海風と夜の陸風の交替時に出現する無風状態で、耐えがたい蒸し暑さを感じる。南四国は太平洋型のなかの南海型気候で、夏は高温多湿のうえに台風がまともに豪雨をもたらすので、高知市の年降水量は高松市の倍以上となる。その暑熱を利用して米の二期作が普及している。冬も温暖なので野菜の促成栽培が盛んである。

　年降水量は、南四国の高知県魚梁瀬(やなせ)地区などは5000ミリメートルに達するが、瀬戸内側は1000ミリメートル余にすぎない。しかも分水嶺(れい)が北に偏っているので、降水はほとんど高知ないし徳島側へ流出する。したがって南四国には四万十(しまんと)川、仁淀川、吉野川など比較的大きい河川があり、洪水も多いが、水資源にも恵まれている。一方、北四国は小河川のみで従来水不足に悩んできた。南四国は植生も豊かで、天然の美林が多いのに、瀬戸内側は裸山が目だつ。

［坂口良昭］

産業

四国の産業別就業人口比率（1995）をみると、第一次産業は13.4％で全国平均7.1％に比べるとかなり高いウェイトを占め、食料供給基地の役目が大きい。農業生産は全国の5.3％（1993）で全国平均より高く、地域的には東北地方、北海道に次ぐ。とくに高知県の温室やビニルハウスによる促成栽培は盛んで、フェリーボートや瀬戸大橋などで東京・大阪市場へ直送している。典型的遠郊農業の特色をもち、ピーマン、トマト、キュウリ、ナス、スイカなどを季節外れに大量かつ組織的に出荷する。高知県では江戸時代から米の二期作が行われてきたが、最近は全国的な生産調整などで減少し、野菜、果実の生産額が米産を上回っている。

　段々畑で名高い愛媛県の農業は果樹栽培が特色で、ミカン、ナツミカン、イヨカンの生産量はいずれも全国一であり、米の生産量をはるかに上回る。しかし近年、過剰生産ぎみで価格の低落が農家にはこたえている。徳島県のスダチ、香川県の盆栽も特色がある。

　林業は南四国が温暖な気候と多雨のため、スギなどの美林が多く、とくに徳島県の木頭(きとう)、高知県の魚梁瀬は林業地として知られる。林業副産物としては和紙の原料のミツマタ、コウゾの生産が多く、愛媛・高知両県で全国生産の半分以上を占める。

　1995年（平成7）の四国4県の漁獲量は46万0675トンで、全国の漁獲量の4.3％を占める。瀬戸内はノリ、ワカメ、ハマチ、タイ、ヒラメなどの養殖が中心であるが、赤潮による被害を被ることが多い。土佐沖のカツオの一本釣りは有名だが、最近は延縄(はえなわ)漁法も多い。近海また遠洋でのマグロ漁業も盛んで、大部分は焼津(やいづ)港（静岡県）へ水揚げされる。水産加工業も高知県の土佐市、土佐清水(とさしみず)市でのかつお節加工、愛媛県伊予市の削り節「花かつを」などがよく知られる。愛媛県の真珠養殖は全国一を誇っている。

　四国の地質上、鉱産資源は乏しく、従来銅鉱、石灰石のほかにみるべきものはない。江戸時代中期から採掘が行われ、日本三大銅山の一つに数えられた愛媛県の別子(べっし)銅山も1973年に閉山した。

　四国では東予地区と徳島臨海地区が新産業都市に指定されているが、期待したほどの発展はなかった。四国の製品出荷額の全国比は、2.7％にすぎない。東予地区では住友系を中心にした新居浜(にいはま)・西条地区の重機械・化学・アルミニウムコンビナートが四国を代表する工業である。西条には最近、半導体やビールなど用水型工業が進出している。四国中央市の川之江・伊予三島地区にはパルプ・製紙工業が集中している。徳島県の吉野川河口には豊富な地下水、地上水を利用して東亜合成、東邦テナックス（旧、東邦レーヨン）、日清(にっしん)紡、四国化成、大塚製薬などの化学工業団地が立地する。香川県の番の州(ばんのす)コンビナートには川崎重工業の造船、三菱(みつびし)系のコークス、YKKなどがある。松山臨海部は帝人系と丸善系の石油と化学繊維コンビナート、さらに高知臨海部にはセメントと電気化学工業の工場が立地する。

　四国の近代工業は、装置系、原料加工系の工業で、構造不況業種に属するものが多い。一方、地場(じば)産業も種類は多いが、これも輸出環境の悪化などでいずれも苦しい状況といえる。「伝統工芸品産業」の指定を受けているものに、香川県のきんま・象谷(ぞうこく)塗などの漆器、丸亀市の団扇(うちわ)、徳島県のしじら織、阿波(あわ)和紙、高知県の土佐和紙、愛媛県の大洲(おおず)和紙、砥部(とべ)焼があり、特殊技術をもっていちおう安定している。そのほか、代表的な地場産業をあげると、徳島市の鏡台やたんす、香川県東かがわ市の手袋、同さぬき市大川町のボタン、小豆(しょうど)島のしょうゆ、愛媛県今治(いまばり)市のタオルと縫製品、四国中央市の水引、製紙などがある。

［坂口良昭］

交通

四国最初の鉄道は1888年（明治21）に三津浜―松山間に敷設された伊予鉄道である。その翌年讃岐鉄道の丸亀―琴平(ことひら)間が開通した。国鉄（現、JR）は1927年（昭和2）予讃線の高松―松山間、1935年高徳線の高松―徳島間、土讃線の高松―高知間が全通した。現在、瀬戸大橋を通る本四備讃線により本州と結ばれている。四国循環鉄道の構想は挫折(ざせつ)したが、四国西半分は、JR土讃線と予讃線が予土線で結ばれ、さらに土佐くろしお鉄道が中村まで通じる。東半分についてはJR高徳線、牟岐(むぎ)線に続いて、阿佐(あさ)海岸鉄道の海部(かいふ)―甲浦(かんのうら)間が、第三セクターで1992年（平成4）に開業した。

　道路は、1988年（昭和63）本四連絡橋の児島(こじま)―坂出(さかいで)ルートの完成により、本州と結ばれた。さらに、1998年（平成10）神戸―鳴門(なると)ルート、1999年尾道(おのみち)―今治(いまばり)ルートが全線開通した。四国内は、国道11号、32号、33号のいわゆるV字幹線道に加えて、臨海部を通る55号、56号のWルートの舗装、改良が進み、いまは快適な車による四国一周旅行ができるようになった。さらに四国縦貫自動車道の開通、四国横断自動車道の部分開通など高速道路網の整備も進んでいる。道路の舗装率、改良率はともに香川県を除く他の3県はきわめて悪い。なかでも改良率は全国最下位のグループにこの3県が入っている。

　海上交通は東京と徳島、高知を結ぶ長距離フェリーのほか、短・中距離フェリーが無数にある。対岸の岡山、広島、大分、和歌山各県との間、四国各県から阪神への中距離フェリーも多い。しかし瀬戸大橋架橋後、これらのフェリーのなかには大打撃を受けたものもあり、また、1998年の明石海峡大橋の開通で、廃業あるいは縮小したフェリーが多い。空港は徳島、高松、松山、高知の四つがあり、いずれの空港もジェット機が就航している。

［坂口良昭］

開発

四国の開発プロジェクトは交通関係が中心である。第一が本州四国連絡架橋で、1978年（昭和53）児島(こじま)―坂出(さかいで)ルートの瀬戸大橋の着工式があり、1988年に開通した。また神戸―鳴門ルート（神戸・淡路(あわじ)・鳴門自動車道）は1998年（平成10）4月、尾道(おのみち)―今治(いまばり)ルート（西瀬戸自動車道＝瀬戸内しまなみ海道）は1999年5月に、それぞれ全面開通した。四国幹線自動車道は、8の字型に交差する川之江市（現、四国中央市）で1980年起工式が行われ、横断自動車道462キロメートル、縦貫自動車道224キロメートルの建設に着手した。1995年時点の供用率32.3％である。原子力発電は愛媛県伊方町で実用化されているが、他の候補地は地元の賛否両論で決定に至らない。1997年度末、四国の電力の原子力発電比（発受電力量比）は43％で、比率は漸増している。

［坂口良昭］

人口

1920年（大正9）に第1回国勢調査が行われたが、そのときの四国の人口は306万5643人で、全国の5.5％を占めた。2005年（平成17）の国勢調査では人口408万6457人で、全国比3.2％、人口密度217人である。第二次世界大戦後の人口の推移をみると、いちばん多かったのが1955年（昭和30）の424万5000人（全国比4.8％）、少ないのが1970年の390万4000人（3.7％）である。すなわち、第二次世界大戦中の疎開などで四国の人口は急増したが、1960年代の高度成長期には人口が大都市に流出し、1970年までの10年間に31万7000人の減少をみた。これが四国山地を中心にした過疎化の波となって現れた。

　4県のなかで1970年以降最初に人口増に転じたのは香川県で、1965年の90万1000人を最低に上昇に転じ、1980年12月には100万人を突破した。ついで愛媛県が1970年141万8000人を最低に増に転じた。高知・徳島両県も1970年をボトムに1975年から増に転じてはいるが、年度別にみると愛媛は1971年から、高知、徳島は1974年からで、それも増の幅はきわめて少ない。1990年からふたたび、香川を除く3県が減少に転じた。1970年の国勢調査によると、人口減少率10％以上の町村数は香川が0、徳島が12、愛媛、高知がそれぞれ17であるが、1995年では香川が0、徳島が4、愛媛が14、高知が3と愛媛の減が多い。人口流出の下げ止まりという点からいえば、安定成長期は四国にプラスしていたといえる。

　65歳以上の老齢人口の率の高いのが問題で、高知が全国3位、徳島8位、愛媛12位、香川が18位で、今後老人問題の処理は四国4県にとって重大な問題となろう。これは裏返せば出生率の低率ということで、香川県をのぞけば低位で、当然死亡率も高く、全国2位の高知県をはじめとして高位にある（2005）。

［坂口良昭］

歴史

4県ともに旧石器が発見されており、先土器時代から人類の居住が認められる。また青銅器文化圏では、香川、徳島、高知の3県には銅鐸(どうたく)と銅剣、銅鉾(どうほこ)が同時に多数発見されており、大和(やまと)文化と北九州文化との境界帯をなしていたことがわかる。徳島では銅鐸が41個も発見されているが、これは全国有数である。1998年（平成10）3月、阿波国府跡から、7世紀の『論語』や税に関する木簡(もっかん)が発見され、日本最古級として注目されている。愛媛は北九州文化圏に属していたようだが、そのなかでも南予からは銅鉾、中予、東予からは銅剣が発見されており、文化圏の細分がみられる。古墳は愛媛に前方後円墳の大規模なものが多く、香川にもかなり発見されている。高知には円墳など小型のものが多い。当時の文化度、豪族の富の程度が瀬戸内側に偏っていたといえる。律令(りつりょう)制度下では五畿(ごき)七道の南海道に属した。

　四国全体が流罪の地であるが、とくに高知は遠流(おんる)の国として中央の政変のたびに多くの貴人が失意の涙を流した所でもある。土佐の国守紀貫之(きのつらゆき)の『土佐日記』は、京への帰任の海路のつれづれを描いているが、当時の航海は海賊が出没するなど厳しいものであった。海賊のなかで、宇和海の日振(ひぶり)島を拠点に活躍した前伊予掾(じょう)藤原純友(すみとも)の反乱は承平(じょうへい)・天慶(てんぎょう)の乱として名高い。

　中世の四国は混乱の時代であるが、室町幕府の守護職細川一族が讃岐、阿波、土佐に力を振るった。その後阿波の三好(みよし)氏が細川氏を倒して讃岐にまで進出する。土佐では長宗我部(ちょうそがべ)一族が実力を蓄え、戦国末期、元親(もとちか)の代に一挙に四国平定の軍をおこし、1585年（天正13）の春にほぼ全四国を手中にした。伊予で当時勢力を振るっていたのは南予の西園寺(さいおんじ)氏と中予、東予の河野(こうの)一族であるが、どちらも元親の軍門に下った。しかし同年7月には四国征伐の軍をおこした豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉の前に長宗我部氏は降服し、土佐一国を領有するに至った。阿波は蜂須賀(はちすか)氏、讃岐は仙石氏、伊予は小早川氏がそれぞれ入部した。関ヶ原の戦いののち、土佐は山内氏の所領となった。このうち、土佐（24万石、朱印状20万石）、阿波（26万石）は一国一藩のまま明治に至るが、讃岐は生駒(いこま)氏の領有を経て高松藩松平氏（12万石）、丸亀藩京極(きょうごく)氏（6万石）の二つに分割される。京極丸亀藩は、後に多度津藩1万石を分家する。もっとも複雑な変動を示したのが伊予で、紆余曲折(うよきょくせつ)ののち最終的に8藩に分割された。松山藩15万石松平（久松）氏のほか、その分家の今治(いまばり)藩3万5000石、宇和島藩10万石伊達(だて)氏、その分家の吉田藩3万石、大洲(おおず)藩6万石加藤氏、その分家の新谷(にいや)藩1万石、西条藩3万石松平氏、小松藩1万石一柳(ひとつやなぎ)氏の8藩で、川之江・別子地方は天領となった。伊予の細分割は各藩の財政難を招き、伊予の七ツ免（村高の7割を徴集される意）といわれる高率年貢を課したので、百姓一揆(いっき)が多発した。

　幕末からの四国は土佐が中心である。尊王攘夷(じょうい)の先兵として坂本龍馬(りょうま)、中岡慎太郎などを輩出し、藩主山内容堂は率先して版籍を奉還した。それに比し、阿波、讃岐、伊予は維新への対応に苦しみ混乱が続いた。明治時代になっても、土佐は自由民権運動の発祥地として全国に名をはせた。板垣退助と立志社の運動は当時の日本をリードし、国会開設への原動力となった。近代日本の幕開けの主役は、遠流の国土佐であった。土佐人のいごっそうぶりが発揮されたのである。

　藩政時代の四国の特産物には、讃岐三白(さんぱく)の塩、綿、砂糖、阿波の藍(あい)、伊予の木綿、土佐の和紙などがあるが、明治以後急速に衰えた。しかし、そのうち讃岐の塩は専売制の下で発展を続け、伊予木綿は今治のタオル産業に引き継がれた。

［坂口良昭］

民俗

四国の海岸部を巡って四国独特の文化と民俗を形成しているのは弘法(こうぼう)大師信仰である。春と秋には行路人に茶菓をふるまい、その御利益(ごりやく)を被ろうとするいわゆるお接待の風は各地でみられる。また大師の札所寺院の開基にまつわる難行苦行、大師の功徳(くどく)を語るさまざまな伝説は、四国の伝説を代表するものであり、徳島、高知や愛媛の山間の村には茶堂(ちゃどう)と称する吹抜けの大師堂が集落ごとにあり、特異な習俗をなしている。

　阿波の人形浄瑠璃(じょうるり)はわが国の人形芝居の源流をなすものの一つであるが、海の彼方(かなた)から訪れる神々を原型とするこの人形浄瑠璃は豊漁祈願の信仰と結合して、四国海岸部に足跡を残しており、漁村部の娯楽としても明治末年までその命脈を保っていた。

　四国を二分して縦断するものに平家伝説がある。伝説では屋島の合戦に敗れた平家一族は安徳(あんとく)帝を奉持して四国山地に入り、愛媛県西端まで達しており、その道筋にはいくつかの行在所(あんざいしょ)と陵墓を残している。なかでも著名なのは徳島県三好(みよし)郡祖谷谷(いやだに)であり、高知県高岡郡越知(おち)町の横倉山である。安徳帝が入水(じゅすい)したあとも、四国山地を縦断潜幸したと語り伝えているのは、剣山、石鎚(いしづち)山を頂点とする四国の山岳修行者の介在があったものと思われる。四国山地の怪異譚(たん)、地名由来譚、集落の開拓譚、正月に餅(もち)を搗(つ)かぬ家、門松を立てぬ家などの伝承や習俗が平家伝説から派生したものが多いことも大きな特色である。またこれら山地部では山伏系の神楽(かぐら)がみられ、木地師の伝承が多いほか、剣山系、石鎚山系、黒尊(くろそん)川流域では、狩猟習俗でもっとも重要視されている熊狩り習俗とその信仰が豊富である。そこには修験(しゅげん)、陰陽師(おんみょうじ)、吉田神道(しんとう)、熊野信仰などの影響がみられる。

　四国山地は南四国に多雨、北四国に寡雨という自然気象をもたらしているが、それは四国の生業やそれに伴う習俗にも投影されている。北四国では溜池(ためいけ)が多く、雨乞(あまご)い信仰が顕著に分布している。元来盆の奉納芸能であった鐘踊り、太鼓(たいこ)踊りが雨乞いに奉納され、南四国では同じ盆の芸能が秋の豊作を祝って奉納されるという変容をみせてくる。民家習俗においても、南四国では山麓(さんろく)で産出される石灰を用いた白壁造りの家が多く、風雨による壁の崩壊を防いでおり、軒先も低い。これに対して、北四国では土壁の家が多く、軒先を高くして風光を大きく取り入れている。

　また北四国の内海、南四国の外洋という地勢的差異は内海漁業と沖合漁業という漁法の違いをみせ、漁労組織習俗はより協同作業を必要とする南四国沿岸部に発達している。また内海と外洋の海の表情の違いは祭礼習俗のなかにもみられ、宇和島市三浦半島の盆の踊り舟やいさ踊り、松山市興居(ごご)島和気姫(わけひめ)神社の船踊りや櫂伝馬(かいでんま)などのように、海上に舟を浮かべて先祖霊を供養する祭式の多いのは穏やかな瀬戸内の海でこそなされることで、波濤(はとう)の砕け散る南四国の海辺では、八幡舟(はちまんぶね)をのせた台車が町中や参道を行く風景となる。

　四国4県を一つに結ぶものに金毘羅信仰(こんぴらしんこう)がある。瀬戸内では海運業の盛んなところから流し樽(たる)の習俗がみられ、海上安全の祈願と結び付く。南四国では稲作や家内安全の祈願と結び付き金毘羅講を形成し、それによって得た見聞は習俗の伝播(でんぱ)にも役割を果たしていた。

　地域的特徴を示すものとして、横死した宇和島藩士山家(やんべ)清兵衛を祀(まつ)る和霊(われい)神社（宇和島市）がある。四国西部にはこの御霊(ごりょう)信仰と早世した長男を崇(あが)める若宮信仰とが交錯しつつ、屋敷神や先祖神が濃く分布している。また香川県の海岸、島嶼(とうしょ)部および徳島県海部(かいふ)郡海陽(かいよう)町あたりでは両墓制がみられる。埋め墓をステバカ、サンマイ、詣(まい)り墓をオガミバカ、セキトウバなどと呼称しているが、和歌山県にも同様の墓制があり、紀州との交渉を示すものである。

［高木啓夫］

民話

四国地方の口承資料は、昭和10年代の『西讃岐昔話集』や『阿波祖谷(あわいや)山昔話』が古い。そして、そのころの収集をのちに増補改訂した『土佐昔話集』も比較的時期の早い伝承を記録している。

　四国地方には笑い話が多い。そして民話の優れた語り手は、四国では男性に偏っている。ほとんどの場合炉辺で客を接待し相手になるのが男性であったといい、また村寄合や山の仕事宿で、男たちの集団が歴史的に語りを維持してきた。四国の昔話が笑話化される著しい現象は、こうした習慣や暮らしのあり方に直結するものであろう。この地方の語りは世間話化されて定着し、実在の人物の滑稽(こっけい)な所作(しょさ)と結び付いて伝えられているのが、おおよその姿といえる。

　四国には昔話の主人公が実存する例が多い。ときにはその人物が、同時に語り手であったりする。土佐の泰作(たいさく)ばなしはその典型的な例である。泰作には子孫があり墓地も実在する。さかな屋、塩売り、木綿売りとして泰作の名は行商の先々で、人々をたぶらかしたり、機知を発揮する人物として四国各地に残っている。こうした世間師を土地人はテンクロといった。ほかにも半七、与八、キザさん、米蔵などの人物が笑い話に登場する。これらの人々に共通するのは、行商人、農家の奉公人や駄賃取りの仕事をしていることである。

　四国はお遍路さんの地として、長い間巡礼や諸国修行者を受け入れてきた。それらの人々が運んだ伝承が定着する例も多い。四国八十八か所の寺のなかには、昔話が寺社縁起になっている場合もある。それらのなかでは、宝手拭(てぬぐい)、炭焼長者、猫檀家(だんか)などが知られている。また海に面する土地では、潮待ち、風待ちの船人を遇してきた歴史がある。瀬戸内には、江戸時代の北前船が残していった話もみられる。

［野村純一］

『大明堂編集部編『新日本地誌ゼミナール6　中国・四国地方』（1987・大明堂）』▽『『風土記日本2　中国・四国編』（1960・平凡社）』▽『『日本の地理6　中国・四国編』（1962・岩波書店）』▽『日本地誌研究所編『日本地誌18巻　四国地方』（1981・二宮書店）』▽『『図説日本文化地理大系3　四国』（1961・小学館）』▽『山本大・田中歳雄著『四国の風土と歴史』（1977・山川出版社）』▽『網野善彦ほか編『日本民俗文化大系　全14巻・別巻1』（1994・小学館）』