地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Tsunuga Salt: The Only Salt Left Uncursed

Overview

For centuries, the Tsunuga area along Wakasa Bay (present-day Tsuruga) was known for producing high-quality salt. Moreover, at one point it was regarded as the only salt that was safe for the emperor to eat. According to an ancient tale, political intrigue and unrequited love in the capital led a vengeful minister to curse all the salt in Japan. Fortunately, as he was casting the curse, he forgot to mention Tsunuga, so the salt produced there was considered spared, making Tsunuga an even more valuable source of salt for the court and the nobility of the capital.

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According to Nihon shoki, an eighth-century chronicle of Japanese history, the powerful, high-ranking minister Heguri no Matori (d. 498) tried to usurp power and reign over the country after the death of Emperor Ninken (449–498), the legendary 24th emperor. Matori claimed to be acting on behalf of the late emperor’s young son, the future Emperor Buretsu (489–507), and lived in a grand palace commissioned for the heir.

As Buretsu grew up, he began courting Kagehime, a secret lover of Matori’s son Heguri no Shibi. When she reluctantly agreed to a meeting for fear of what might happen if she denied the advances of the prince, Matori was ordered to provide horses for Buretsu. The minister accepted the order, mockingly saying, “For whom else are the palace horses kept? Of course, his orders shall be obeyed,” but deliberately delayed them.

Despite the setback, Buretsu eventually approached Kagehime at a poetry reading event. Shibi tried to intervene, but was ordered to step aside. The two young men exchanged poems, concealing threats and insults in metaphor. When Shibi refused to stand down, Buretsu used his next verse to declare his love directly to Kagehime, but Shibi responded that his was the only love she required.

Buretsu realized then that Shibi and Kagehime were already a couple. Remembering the incident with the horses and enraged by the disrespect, Buretsu had Shibi executed and arranged for Matori to be killed. Filled with resentment, Matori cursed all the salt in the sea as a final act of revenge before his death, expecting that the cursed salt would eventually reach the emperor’s table. He listed the names of countless places, but apparently forgot to mention the Tsunuga area, and it was therefore believed that only salt from Tsunuga was safe for consumption by the emperor.

It is unlikely that events took place exactly as the ancient story suggests, but it provides an interesting explanation as to why Tsunuga salt was highly valued. The tale also highlights the connection between Wakasa Bay and the capital, showing how happenings at the court and among the nobility could influence the reputation and consumption of goods from a comparatively small, far-off coastal region.

Exhibition Items

On display are artifacts and replicas of objects related to Tsunuga salt production. Notable items include ancient pottery found at the Matsubara salt production site and a replica of one of the wooden shipping tags that marked salt supplies from Tsunuga to the capital in Heijokyo (present-day Nara). An enlarged reproduction of one of the Nihon shoki pages telling the story of Tsunuga salt, as well as a photo of the Matsubara site, can be seen in the information panels.

角鹿鹽：唯一沒有被詛咒的鹽

概要

數世紀以來，若狹灣沿岸的角鹿地區（今敦賀市）都以出產高品質的鹽而聞名，甚至曾被認可為是唯一可供天皇食用的安全鹽源。在一則古代傳說裡，由於首都的政治陰謀和一場求而不得的單戀，引發了一名大臣對全日本的鹽進行詛咒。幸運的是，他在念咒時漏掉了角鹿，因此人們相信角鹿鹽並未受到詛咒。就這樣，角鹿在朝廷和首都貴族的眼中成為了更有價值的鹽產地。

瞭解更多

在8世紀成書的日本編年史《日本書紀》中提及，第24代天皇仁賢天皇（449-498）去世後，重臣平群真鳥（？-498）曾試圖奪權篡位。平群真鳥宣稱自己受命攝政輔佐已故天皇的幼子，也就是未來的武烈天皇（489-507），並以此為由，直接住進了繼位者御用的宏偉宮殿。

長大後的武烈開始追求一位叫影媛的女子，她是平群真鳥之子平群鮪的秘密情人。影媛害怕拒絕皇子的示好會惹來禍患，只得勉為其難地答應會面。當武烈命令平群真鳥為自己備馬時，大臣承旨但嘲弄地說：「這宮裡的馬還能是為誰養的呢？當然了，他的命令是要聽的。」甚至故意拖延磨蹭。

雖然受到阻撓，武烈還是趕到了詩會現場，見到了影媛。平群鮪想阻攔他，卻被下令回避。於是，兩個年輕人鬥起詩來，你來我往的詩句間暗藏著威脅與辱駡。平群鮪拒絕退下，武烈便在之後吟出的詩中直接向影媛表達了愛意，可平群鮪卻回應說，自己才是影媛唯一屬意的愛人。

直到這時，武烈才意識到，平群鮪與影媛原來早已相戀。再回想起備馬時的屈辱，武烈勃然大怒，處決了平群鮪，並下令殺死平群真鳥。真鳥滿心仇恨，臨死前為了報復而對海中的鹽下咒，期望這些被詛咒的鹽最終被送上天皇的餐桌。他歷數各片海域，卻唯獨漏掉了角鹿地區。就這樣，角鹿出產的鹽在人們心目中便成為了能夠安全供給天皇食用的唯一選擇。

儘管古代傳說並不一定可信，卻也為角鹿鹽受到推崇提供了一個有趣的解釋。此外，這則傳說中也凸顯了若狹灣與首都的緊密關係，說明了朝廷及權貴之間的風吹草動都可以影響到一個偏遠的海邊小鎮的商品聲譽和消費量。

展品介紹

本展區展出與角鹿地區製鹽相關的文物及複製品。值得關注的展品包括出土於松原製鹽遺址的古陶器，以及記錄著從角鹿往平城京（今奈良）貢鹽資料的「木簡」（貨運標籤）複製品。展示板裡陳列了一張松原遺址的照片和一份放大的《日本書紀》內頁複製品，內容講述就是鹿角鹽的故事。

角鹿盐：唯一没有被诅咒的盐

概要

数世纪以来，若狭湾沿岸的角鹿地区（今敦贺市）都以出产高品质的盐而闻名。它还一度被认为是唯一可安全供给天皇食用的盐。在一则古代传说里，由于首都的政治阴谋和一场求而不得的单恋，引发了一个大臣的报复之心，从而对全日本的盐施加了诅咒。幸运的是，他在念咒时漏掉了角鹿，因此人们相信角鹿盐并未受到诅咒。就这样，角鹿在朝廷和首都贵族的眼中成为了更有价值的盐产地。

了解更多

在8世纪成书的日本编年史《日本书纪》中提及，重臣平群真鸟(?-498)在传说中的第24代天皇仁贤天皇(449-498)去世后曾试图夺权篡位。平群真鸟宣称自己受命摄政辅佐已故天皇的幼子，也就是未来的武烈天皇(489-507)，并以此为由，直接住进了继位者御用的宏伟宫殿。

长大后的武烈开始热烈追求一位叫影媛的女子，她是平群真鸟之子平群鲔的秘密情人。影媛害怕拒绝皇子的示好会惹来祸患，只得勉为其难地答应会面，于是武烈命令平群真鸟为自己准备马匹。大臣承旨但嘲弄地说：“这宫里的马还能是为谁养的呢？当然了，他的命令是要听的。”然后故意拖延磨蹭。

虽然遭到阻碍，武烈还是赶到了诗会现场，见到了影媛。平群鲔想阻拦他，却被命令回避。于是，两个年轻人斗起诗来，你来我往的诗句间暗藏着威胁与辱骂。平群鲔拒绝放弃情人，武烈便在之后吟出的诗中直接向影媛表达了爱意，可平群鲔却回应说，自己才是影媛唯一的真爱。

直到这时，武烈才意识到平群鲔与影媛原来早已相恋。再回想起备马时的遭遇，武烈因臣子的无礼而勃然大怒。他处决了平群鲔，还下令杀死平群真鸟。平群真鸟满心仇恨，临死前为了报复对海中的盐发起了诅咒，期望这些被诅咒的盐最终能送上天皇的餐桌。他历数各片海域，却唯独漏掉了角鹿地区。就这样，角鹿出产的盐在人们心目中便成为了能够安全供给天皇食用的唯一选择。

尽管古代传说的可信度不高，倒也为角鹿盐受到推崇提供了一种有趣的解释。此外，在这则传说中也凸显了若狭湾与首都的关系，从中可以看出，朝廷与权贵之间发生的事情对一个偏远海边小镇的商品声誉和消费量产生的影响。

展品介绍

本展区展出与角鹿地区制盐相关的文物及复制品。值得关注的展品包括出土于松原制盐遗址的古陶器，以及记录了从角鹿往平城京（今奈良）供盐信息的“木简”（货签）复制品。信息面板里有一张松原遗址的照片和一份放大的《日本书纪》内页复制品，讲述的就是鹿角盐的故事。