Detail
| Cultural Resources Category | Histric Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty |
|---|---|
| Cultural Properties Category | Designation Histric Sites |
| Title | The Site of Shimotuke Kokuchou(local government office) |
| Designation Date | 1982/10/12 |
| Cities / Towns | Tochigi |
| Description | The Shimotsuke Provincial Government Office was established as the core of local control under the Ritsuryo system (Nara and Heian periods), and at the same time was the sole local center for politics, economy, trade, and other aspects of the ancient culture of Shimotsuke-kuni. The site of the Shimotsuke-no-kuni government office is mentioned in the "Wamyou Ruiju-shou" as "Kokufu zai Tsuga-gun," and place names that seem to be related to the national government office have been preserved over a wide area. Excavation began in November 1976 with the preparation of a field, and after four years of work, in August 1979, a group of remains of the "Kokuchou" (government office), the central part of the Kokufu, was confirmed in Miyanobe, Tamura-cho, Tochigi City. The remains of the "kokuchou" (late Nara period), measuring approximately 95 m from east to west and north to south, were surrounded by a board fence, with a 13.8 m x 4.2 m south gate at the south center, a 22.2 m x 5.4 m "Zen-den" at the center, and two long, 45.0 m x 4.8 m "Nishiwaki-den" at positions 33 m to the east and west of the Zen-den. Based on the shape of these ditches, a large "Sei-den" is thought to exist to the north of the "Zen-den", but it has not yet been investigated because it is now part of the Miyanome Shrine's forest. Research has revealed that the building was rebuilt four times during the Nara and Heian periods. Subsequent investigations have also confirmed the existence of the Kokufu Office's compartmentalized facilities (walls, north gate, etc.), Minami-oji, the main road of the Kokufu Office, and the Kokushikan (presumed), and a large amount of artifacts such as wooden letters, lacquer paper documents, earthenware, and tiles have been excavated. The site is one of the few valuable kokufu sites where the entire area is clear. |
| Copyright | 著作権あり |
