地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

The Name “Shirakawa”

The name Shirakawa, meaning “white river,” has been used for the area around the Sho river valley in present-day Gifu Prefecture for centuries. The “white river” epithet refers to the waters of the Sho, which often appear cloudy due to hot spring minerals that are emitted from beneath nearby Mt. Haku, a dormant volcano, into one of the river’s tributaries. During the Edo period (1603–1867), Shirakawa encompassed 42 settlements, which together were referred to as Shirakawa-go (“Shirakawa township”). Unlike most areas in Japan at the time, which were administered by local samurai lords or daimyo, Shirakawa-go was under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate (central government). The shogunate procured mainly timber, but also some precious metals, from this comparatively sparsely populated part of the country. After the fall of the shogunate and the accompanying restoration of imperial rule in 1868, Shirakawa-go was split into two administrative units, Shirakawa and Shokawa. Twenty-three of the 42 settlements became Shirakawa village, which survives to this day. The rest were allocated to Shokawa village, which is now part of the city of Takayama. The name Shirakawa-go is still used in reference to the historical area, but should not be confused with the smaller Shirakawa Village.

「白川」之名

所謂「白川」，就是「白色的河流」，此名被用作如今岐阜縣庄川流域一帶的地名已有數個世紀的歷史。之所以得名「白川」，是因為附近的一座活火山「白山」，其地底有溫泉礦物質湧入庄川的一條支流，令庄川的水流常常呈現出渾濁發白的水質。

在江戶時代（1603-1867），白川地區共有42個村莊，被合稱為「白川鄉」。當時日本的絕大多數地區都歸屬於各地大名（日本封建時代的領主）管轄，白川鄉卻不同，直屬德川幕府（中央政府）管控。幕府從這個人口相對稀少的地區採購以木材為主的物資，也包括一些貴重金屬。

1868年幕府終結，王權復興，白川鄉隨即被分割為兩個行政區：白川村和莊川村。42個村莊中的23個被劃歸白川村，餘下的屬於莊川村。白川村至今猶存，莊川村如今卻已成為高山市的一部分。而沿用至今的「白川鄉」之名，依然指稱歷史上的整個地區，特別留意不要跟範圍稍小的「白川村」搞混。

“白川”之名

所谓“白川”，就是“白色的河流”，它被用作如今岐阜县庄川流域一带的地名已有数个世纪的历史。之所以得名“白川”，原因与附近的活火山“白山”有关——白山地底温泉里的矿物质流入庄川的一条支流，使得庄川水流经常呈现出浑浊发白的状态。

在江户时代(1603-1867)，白川地区共有42个村落，它们被合称为“白川乡”。当时，日本的绝大多数地区都归属于各地大名（日本封建时代的领主）管辖，白川乡却不同，它直属德川幕府（中央政府）管控。幕府从这个人口相对稀少的地区采购物资，以木材为主，也包括一些贵重金属。

1868年，幕府终结，王权复兴，白川乡随即被分割为两个行政区：白川村和荘川村。42个居民点中的23个被划归白川村，余下的属于荘川村。白川村至今犹存，荘川村如今却已成为高山市的一部分。而沿用至今的“白川乡”之名，依然泛指历史上的整个地区，切勿跟范围稍小的“白川村”混淆。