Tbilisi - Tobirishi (English spelling) Tbilisi/Tbilisi

Japanese: トビリシ - とびりし（英語表記）Тбилиси／Tbilisi

The capital of Georgia. Population 1,103,500 (2002). The city is located at an altitude of about 500 meters on the broad foothills of the southern Caucasus Mountains and the valley of the Kura River, which runs south along the foothills. The name means "lukewarm water" in Georgian, and is said to come from the hot springs that gush out from the Kura River valley. Formerly known as Tiflis. It is a transportation hub along the Trans-Caucasian Railway, a branch line of which branches off and is the southern terminus of the Georgian Military Highway that crosses the Caucasus Mountains. Since ancient times, it has been home to workshops of metal crafts, weapons, etc., and is now Georgia's largest industrial cluster. There are factories that produce machine tools, electrical equipment, radios, aircraft, automobiles (mainly for freight), electric locomotives, agricultural machinery, etc. Traditional industries and food industries are also thriving, including textiles, leather, wine and brandy (much of which is exported), tobacco, ceramics, and metal crafts. A subway was opened in 1966, and there are cable cars on the hilly streets and Mtatsminda Hill. It is the academic and cultural center of Georgia, and is home to many cultural facilities such as the Academy of Sciences, a comprehensive university, higher education institutions, the Georgian Museum of Ethnography, and theaters.

[Kazuo Watanabe]

history

It is said that there was a settlement here before 3000 BC, but it was first recorded in the 4th century AD in the chronicles. As a key location for east-west and north-south transportation, cultures from various regions intersected here. In the 4th and 5th centuries, it became an important settlement in eastern Georgia, and in the 6th century, it became its capital. It accepted Christianity much earlier than Russia. It was then invaded by Persia, Turkey, Mongolia, and the Arab world. During that time, the kingdom of David IV flourished in the 12th century. In the early 19th century, it came under Russian control and became the center of Russian rule in the Transcaucasus. In 1921, it became the capital of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic when it was established under the Soviet government (since 1991, it has been the capital of Georgia after it became independent from the former Soviet Union). The old town is located in the southeast of the city, and remains include the city walls, narrow winding roads, and medieval buildings. The new town is unique in that the houses with reddish-brown roof tiles are lined up in a stepped pattern on the hillside. The city is rich in historical architecture, including the Narikala Fortress in the old town, Metekhi Church (established in 1278), Zion Church (established in the 6th century), and Anchisuha Church (established in the 6th century).

[Kazuo Watanabe]

[References] | Caucasus Mountains | Kura River | Georgia

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

ジョージア（グルジア）の首都。人口110万3500（2002）。カフカス山脈南麓(なんろく)の広い裾野(すその)と、裾野を刻んで南流するクラ川河谷の標高500メートル前後の地に市街が広がる。名称はジョージア語の「ぬるい水」の意で、クラ河谷の温泉湧出(ゆうしゅつ)によると伝えられる。旧称チフリスТифлис／Tiflis。ザカフカス鉄道に沿い、支線を分岐し、カフカス山脈を越えるジョージア軍用道路の南の終点にあたる交通の要衝。古来、金属工芸、武具などの工房が集まっていたが、現在ではジョージア最大の工業集積地である。工作機械、電気機器、無線機、航空機、自動車（おもに貨物用）、電気機関車、農業機械などの工場がある。伝統工業、食品工業も盛んで、織物、皮革、ぶどう酒とブランデー（多くを輸出）、たばこ、陶磁器、金属工芸品などがある。1966年地下鉄が開通し、坂の多い街路とムタツミンダ丘にはケーブルカーがある。ジョージアの学芸・文化の中心地で、科学アカデミー、総合大学、高等教育機関、ジョージア民族美術館、劇場など多数の文化施設が置かれている。

［渡辺一夫］

歴史

紀元前3000年以前から集落があったとされるが、年代記には紀元後4世紀に初めて記される。東西・南北交通の要地として各地の文化が交錯した。4～5世紀に東ジョージアの有力な集落となり、6世紀にはその首都となって、ロシアよりはるかに早くキリスト教を受け入れた。その後、ペルシア、トルコ、モンゴル、アラブなどの侵攻を受けた。その間、12世紀にはダビデ4世統治の王国が繁栄した。19世紀初頭、ロシアの支配下に入り、そのザカフカス統治の中心となった。1921年、ソビエト政権のもとでジョージア・ソビエト社会主義共和国の成立とともにその首都となる（1991年からは旧ソ連邦から独立したジョージアの首都）。旧市街は市の南東部にあり、城壁、曲折した細い道路、中世の建築物などが残る。新市街は丘陵斜面に階段状に並び、赤茶色の屋根瓦(がわら)をのせた家屋が独特の風景をみせている。歴史的建築物に富み、旧市街に含まれるナリカラ要塞(ようさい)、メテヒ教会（1278創建）、シオン教会（6世紀創建）、アンチスハ教会（6世紀創建）などがある。

［渡辺一夫］

[参照項目] | カフカス山脈 | クラ川 | ジョージア

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