The World of the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki
This themed exhibition is based on the Izumo no kuni fudoki (Gazetteer of Izumo Province), a written collection of oral narratives compiled in the early eighth century as a report to the imperial court. The text describes the geography, natural resources, and local legends of the Izumo region. Historical records mention that gazetteers were compiled for each province, but the texts of only five provinces are extant today: Izumo, Harima, Hitachi, Bungo, and Hizen. Of these, only the Izumo no kuni fudoki survives in a nearly complete state.
Typically, representatives dispatched from the imperial court oversaw the compilation of gazetteers. Izumo’s text is exceptional, however, in that a regional lord handled its compilation. Reflecting this local expertise, the text records names for roughly 800 locations in the area, including the origins for many of them. The text also details the various plants and animals found in Izumo, as well as observations on its landscape, buildings, economy, and local customs. Today, this information provides valuable insight into daily life in ancient times.
Local myths are interspersed throughout the Izumo no kuni fudoki, and several of these stories are presented in “Myths of the Izumo Province,” a short film shown in the Mythology Theater adjacent to the Corridor of Myth and Legend.