Tsushima

Japanese: 対馬 - つしま

An island between Kyushu and the Korean peninsula. It is part of Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture. In ancient times it was called Tsushima Province or Taishu. Its area is 696.29 square kilometers (2005). It is a border island located 120 kilometers by sea from Hakata Port via Iki, and just 40 kilometers north from Busan, Korea, across the Korea Strait. Since ancient times it has played an important role in the culture, economy, and military relations between the continent and Japan. It has many Yayoi ruins, ancient tombs, and Engi-shiki-nai shrines, and was home to Japan's oldest silver mine. This shows that Japan's profits from the culture and trade brought by immigrants and government envoys were particularly great. Other historical backgrounds include the Sakimori (7th century), the Mongol Invasions of Japan (13th century), the Bunroku-Keicho Invasions (16th century), the Wako and Toi invasions, etc. After the Meiji era, the entire island became a fortified area, and now, as a developing area, the stagnation of the island's economy and culture is pointed out. However, the island's international importance is shown in terms of communications and military affairs, and in 1975 (Showa 50), the Japan Coast Guard's Omega Station (Omega Tower), a world-famous radio lighthouse, was established (abolished in 1997). Other facilities include underwater listening devices (sonar) (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) and Decca Station (Japan Coast Guard), and maritime and land security forces are stationed. Population 36,227 (2009).

[Yasuyoshi Ishii]

Nature

Geologically, it is recognized as a land bridge over which flora and fauna from the continent once crossed. The current topography is a tectonic plateau made up of Tertiary strata, with the mountainous form of an uplifted peneplain about 400 meters above sea level, and the river valleys that cut into it have formed mature valleys. The main watershed that runs north to south is biased to the east, and the rivers flow relatively gently on the west side, while they are short and steeply sloping on the east side. Many parts of the coast show signs of subsidence, and Aso Bay in the center features the most drowned valley scenery in Japan. This natural scenery, combined with its historical background, has led to the area being designated as Iki-Tsushima Quasi-National Park.

[Yasuyoshi Ishii]

traffic

In 1979, Tsushima Airport (Shiree, Mitsushimamachi district, Tsushima City) was opened, providing air routes to Fukuoka and Nagasaki, and jetfoils and ferries operate from Hakata Port to Izuhara Port and Hitakatsu Port. Transportation within the island was provided by sea, linking the various major towns; Ofunakoshi Strait was opened during the Genroku period (1688-1704), and Manzeki Strait was opened before the Russo-Japanese War (1904). In the past, land transportation was extremely inconvenient, with horses being the main means of transportation, and riverbed roads that made use of the river valleys were the norm. Roads were completely undeveloped, with only a modern military road between Izuhara and Kechi. After the Second World War, forest roads were built in various places, and now the Tsushima Longitudinal Road (National Route 382) has been completed, running north to south. High-speed ferries (irregular) run from Izuhara Port and Hitakatsu Port to Busan, Korea.

[Yasuyoshi Ishii]

industry

Because of the large mountainous area, only 2% of the land is arable. To make up for the lack of arable land, slash-and-burn farming (kiba-za) has been practiced since ancient times in the forests, and millet, buckwheat, and soybeans were cultivated. However, slash-and-burn farming has now been abolished, and the main crops grown are sweet potatoes, potatoes, and wheat in ordinary fields. Livestock farming once produced the Tsushima horse, but has now completely declined. 89% of the island is covered by forests, but since the Meiji era, it has been designated a fortress, and forest development has stagnated, with only natural pine trees being used for stake production and firewood and charcoal production from the mixed forests on slash-and-burn land. In 1959 (Showa 34), the Tsushima Forestry Corporation was established, and 5,335 hectares were reforested, but no reforestation has been carried out since 2001. Firewood and charcoal production has also stagnated as kerosene has become the main household fuel, and instead, shiitake mushroom cultivation has flourished, occupying an important position in agricultural and forestry income.

The fishing industry is centered around squid, with sea bream, yellowtail, etc. being mainly done by line fishing and coastal fixed net fishing. Pearl farming is also popular.

Mining began in 674 (the 3rd year of Emperor Tenmu's reign) in the Sasu and Shiine areas, where the first silver was produced in Japan. After the Meiji period, zinc and lead were mined (Taishu Mine). However, the mine closed in 1973, and the surrounding area has been designated as an area requiring observation for cadmium contamination.

[Yasuyoshi Ishii]

sightseeing

Examples of interesting sights include Joyama, with the remains of a Korean-style mountain castle, Asajiyama, popular with the defenders (all in the Mitsushimacho area of Tsushima City), Kanaishi Castle, Banshoin Temple, and the high walls of samurai residences (in the Izuharacho area of the same city). The island also features stilt-built hyomon huts (granaries) and stone-roofed houses made from shale found throughout the island, as well as distinctive transport scenery such as the Manseki Bridge and Ofunakoshi Bridge. In addition, there is the beautiful coastline and ocean found in various places, including Asaji Bay, and the beautiful valleys with autumn leaves found in the depths.

[Yasuyoshi Ishii]

"Nature and Culture of Tsushima" (1953, Tsushima Joint Research Committee of the Nine Academic Societies Union)" ▽ "Academic Research Report of Iki-Tsushima Natural Park" (1965, Nature Conservation Society of Japan)" ▽ "The Living Creatures of Tsushima" (1976), compiled and published by the Nagasaki Prefecture Biological Society " ▽ "Ancient Japan and Tsushima" by Nagatome Hisae (1985, Yamato Shobo) ▽ "The Life and Cultural History of Tsushima" by Yano Michiko (1995, Genryusha) ▽ "A Study of the Beliefs and Tales of Tsushima" by Okada Keisuke (1997, Oufū)

Hiroshige Utagawa, "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Tsushima: Evening Clear Skies"
1856 (Ansei 3), National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Tsushima Coast"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

九州と朝鮮半島との間にある島。長崎県対馬市に属する。古くは対馬国あるいは対州(たいしゅう)とよばれた。面積696.29平方キロメートル（2005）。博多(はかた)港から壱岐(いき)を経て海路120キロメートルにあり、北は朝鮮海峡を隔てて韓国の釜山(ふざん)までわずかに40キロメートルの距離にある国境の島である。古くから大陸とわが国との文化、経済、軍事上に重要な役割を果たした。弥生(やよい)遺跡や古墳や延喜(えんぎ)式内社が多く、日本最古の銀山があった。このことは、渡来人や政府使節がもたらした文化と貿易によって得た日本の利益はとくに大きかったことを示す。そのほか、防人(さきもり)（7世紀）、文永(ぶんえい)・弘安(こうあん)の役の元寇(げんこう)（13世紀）、文禄・慶長の役(ぶんろくけいちょうのえき)（16世紀）、倭寇(わこう)や刀伊(とい)などの歴史的背景を有する。明治以後は全島要塞(ようさい)地帯となり、現在では開発途上地帯として島の経済・文化の停滞性が指摘される。しかし島の国際的重要性は通信や軍事のうえで示され、1975年（昭和50）には世界的な電波灯台の海上保安庁オメガ局（オメガ塔）が設置された（1997年廃止）。このほかに水中聴音器(ソナー)（海上自衛隊）、デッカ局（海上保安庁）などの施設があり、海上・陸上の警備隊が配置されている。人口3万6227（2009）。

［石井泰義］

自然

地学的には、かつて大陸の動植物が陸上を伝わってきた陸橋と認められている。現在の地形は、第三紀層からなる地塁山地で、標高約400メートルの隆起準平原の山容を呈し、これを刻む河谷は壮年期の渓谷をつくっている。南北に走る主分水界は東に片寄り、河川は西側では比較的緩やかに流れ、東側では短小で急傾斜をなす。海岸は沈降型を示す所が多く、中央部の浅茅湾(あそうわん)では日本一の溺(おぼ)れ谷景観を展開している。こうした自然景観は、歴史的背景と相まって壱岐対馬国定公園に指定されている。

［石井泰義］

交通

1979年（昭和54）対馬空港（対馬市美津島町(みつしままち)地区白蓮江(しれえ)）が開設され、福岡、長崎への空路があり、博多(はかた)港から厳原港(いづはらこう)、比田勝港(ひたかつこう)にジェットフォイル、フェリーが就航している。島内交通は各地の主邑(しゅゆう)を結ぶ海上交通が開かれ、大船越(おおふなこし)瀬戸は元禄(げんろく)年間（1688～1704）、万関(まんぜき)瀬戸は日露戦争（1904）前に開設した水路である。かつては陸上交通はきわめて不便で、対州馬をおもな交通手段とし、河谷を利用した河床道(かしょうどう)が主であり、道路はまったく未開発で、軍用道路として厳原―雞知(けち)間に近代的道路が開かれているにすぎなかった。第二次世界大戦後、各地に林道がつくられ、現在では南北を貫く対馬縦貫道路（国道382号）が完成している。厳原港、比田勝港からは韓国の釜山へ高速船の便（不定期）がある。

［石井泰義］

産業

山地が多いため耕地はわずかに2％足らずで、耕地の不足を補うため古くから林野での木場(こば)作（焼畑）が行われ、アワ、ソバ、ダイズがつくられたが、現在は木場作は廃止され、普通畑でのサツマイモ、ジャガイモ、ムギの生産を主としている。牧畜は、かつて対州馬を産したが、いまはまったく衰えている。全島の89％が林野で占められているが、明治以後要塞に指定され、森林の開発は停滞、わずかに天然のマツを利用した杭木(こうぼく)の生産や木場作跡地の雑木林からの薪炭の生産にとどまっていた。1959年（昭和34）対馬林業公社が発足、5335ヘクタールを造林したが2001年度を最後に造林はしていない。また、薪炭の生産も、灯油が家庭燃料として主役を占めるに及んで停滞し、そのかわりにシイタケ栽培が盛んとなり、農林業所得の重要な地位を占めている。

　漁業はイカを中心に、タイ、ブリなどの一本釣りや沿岸での定置網漁業が主である。真珠養殖も盛んである。

　鉱業は674年（天武天皇3）佐須(さす)・椎根(しいね)地区においてわが国最初の産銀が行われ、明治以後は亜鉛と鉛が採掘（対州鉱山）されたが、1973年（昭和48）閉山し、付近一帯はカドミウム汚染要観察地区に指定されている。

［石井泰義］

観光

朝鮮式山城(やまじろ)の遺構をもつ城山(じょうやま)をはじめ、防人たちに親しまれた浅茅山(あさじやま)（いずれも対馬市美津島町地区）あるいは金石城、万松(ばんしょう)院や武家屋敷の高塀など（同市厳原町地区）の史跡、島内各地にみられる高床式の俵物(ひょうもん)小屋（穀物倉）や頁(けつ)岩を利用した石屋根の家屋景観、万関橋・大船越橋などの特色ある交通景観があり、さらに浅茅湾をはじめとして各地にみられる海岸美、海洋美や奥地にみられる紅葉の渓谷美などがあげられる。

［石井泰義］

『『対馬の自然と文化』（1953・九学会連合対馬共同調査委員会）』▽『『壱岐・対馬自然公園学術調査報告書』（1965・日本自然保護協会）』▽『長崎県生物学会編・刊『対馬の生物』（1976）』▽『永留久恵著『古代日本と対馬』（1985・大和書房）』▽『矢野道子著『対馬の生活文化史』（1995・源流社）』▽『岡田啓助著『対馬の信仰と説話の研究』（1997・おうふう）』