地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

The Border Islands

Throughout history, the islands of Iki, Tsushima, and the Goto chain off the western coast of Kyushu have been at the forefront of encounters and exchange between Japan and continental Asia. Tombs and temples, sites of ancient settlements and fortresses, and customs and rituals still practiced today on these border islands tell a 2,300-year story of trade, cultural interaction, and conflict.

Regular exchange among the peoples of the Japanese archipelago and those of mainland Asia across the Tsushima Strait, where Iki and Tsushima are located, is thought to have started before the beginning of the common era. The earliest written record of such interaction is found in the third-century Book of Wei, part of the Chinese historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms.

An account in the Book of Wei of envoys from the state of Cao Wei journeying via the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese kingdom of Yamatai includes descriptions of Tsushima and Harunotsuji, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Iki. The history of this mercantile hub, where the people of Iki exchanged wares and information with traders and travelers from the Korean Peninsula, China, and mainland Japan, can be explored at the Harunotsuji Special Historic Site and in the adjacent Ikikoku Museum. The early history of Tsushima is presented in detailed displays at the Tsushima Museum.

The kingdom of Iki is thought to have been conquered by forces from mainland Japan, which in the sixth and seventh centuries used the island as a staging ground for warfare on the Korean Peninsula. This coincided with the construction of hundreds of kofun burial mounds, which likely were tombs for prominent warriors. Many of the kofun remain and some are open to the public.

After Japan and its allies’ ambitions on the Korean Peninsula were ended by Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Silla in the mid-600s, Tsushima and Iki became key nodes in a network of forts and beacons established to guard against an invasion from the continent. Kaneda Fort on Tsushima was the first line of defense in this network, while the Takenotsuji mountain on Iki is thought to have been the site of a smoke beacon used to send warnings of impending foreign threats to Kyushu.

Despite the political tension, the seventh century was also a time of active peaceful exchange. From 630 onward, Japan sent regular diplomatic and trade embassies to the Tang dynasty in an effort to learn from Chinese culture and civilization. These delegations initially traveled via Iki and Tsushima, but from the year 702 adopted the shorter but more dangerous route from Goto directly across the East China Sea. There are numerous sites associated with the envoys throughout the Goto islands, including the windswept Mimiraku Peninsula from which many of their ships departed.

Exchange across the Tsushima Strait took many forms in the medieval period and during the conflict-ridden Sengoku period (1467–1568). Merchants and pirates from the border islands traded and pillaged along the Korean and Chinese coasts, and some accumulated considerable profits along with a measure of political independence. Namaike Fort on Iki was built by one particularly successful operative, while the Stone pagodas of Hinoshima in the Goto Islands serve as monuments to seafarers whose names have been lost to history.

In the 1590s, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537–1598) twice launched expeditions to conquer China via Iki, Tsushima, and the Korean Peninsula. Katsumoto Castle on Iki and Shimizuyama Castle on Tsushima were built as footholds for these ultimately unsuccessful attempts, which temporarily severed relations between the border islands and Korea.

Ties were reestablished in the early 1600s as a result of the efforts of the So family, the lords of Tsushima. Throughout the Edo period (1603–1867), the So held a monopoly on Japanese trade with Joseon Korea, a lucrative privilege granted in return for managing diplomatic relations between the kingdom and the Tokugawa shogunate. The Korean missions to Tokugawa Japan all passed through Tsushima, where sites such as the So mausoleum at Banshoin Temple and the Ofunae dry dock stand as testament to the prosperity brought about by the trade with Korea.

These and many other sites, customs, and artifacts on Iki, Tsushima, and Goto that convey the islands’ history of exchange with continental Asia have collectively been designated a Japan Heritage Site under the title “The Border Islands Iki, Tsushima, and Goto—The Ancient Bridge to the Continent.”

國境之島

九州西海岸的壹岐島、對馬島和五島列島一直是日本與亞洲大陸接觸和交流的最前沿。這些邊境島嶼上的古墓、寺廟、古代聚落和要塞遺址，以及至今猶存的習俗和禮儀，都在講述著一段長達2300年的貿易、衝突和文化交流的故事。

一般認為，早在西元前，日本列島就已經開始跨過壹岐以及對馬所在的對馬海峽，與對岸的亞洲大陸開始定期交流了。西元3世紀時的中國歷史典籍《三國志·魏志倭人傳》最早記載了互動史實。《魏志倭人傳》中一段關於曹魏使者經朝鮮半島前往日本邪馬台王國的故事裡，描述了對馬和古老的壹岐國都城「原之辻」（音同「十」）的情景。

在被指定為國家特別史跡的原之辻遺址和毗鄰的一支國博物館可以瞭解壹岐的歷史，這座島嶼曾是壹岐人與朝鮮半島、中國和日本本土商人及旅行者交換商品和訊息的商貿中心。對馬博物館則詳細展示了對馬的早期歷史。

據推測，來自日本本土的勢力吞併了壹岐國，並在西元6世紀至7世紀將此島作為對朝鮮半島戰爭的中轉站。彼時，島上還建造了幾百座古墳，可能是權貴武士的陵墓。許多古墳保存完好，其中一些面向大眾開放。

6世紀中葉，隨著日本及其朝鮮盟國百濟的野心被中國唐朝和朝鮮新羅王國終結，對馬和壹岐成了抵禦大陸入侵的要塞和烽火台網路的關鍵基地。對馬的金田城被認為是這一網路的第一道防線，壹岐的岳之辻應該是用來向九州預警外來威脅的烽火台。

儘管政治局勢緊張，但7世紀也是和平交流活躍的時期。自630年起，為了學習中國文化和文明，日本開始定期向唐朝派遣外交和貿易使團「遣唐使」。這些使團最初經壹岐和對馬出海，但從702年開始，改用了從五島列島直接橫跨東海這條更短但兇險萬分的路線。五島列島上有許多與遣唐使有關的遺址，其中包括海風肆虐的三井樂半島——許多遣唐使團的船隻都從這裡出發。

在日本中世紀（12-16世紀）和衝突不斷的戰國時代（1467-1568），對馬海峽兩岸的交流形式可謂多種多樣。邊境島嶼的商賈和海盜在朝鮮和中國沿海進行貿易和掠奪，其中一些人積累了可觀的財富，並獲得了一定程度的政治獨立。壹岐島的生池城就是由一位特別成功的商人所建，而五島列島中的日島石塔群則是為那些名字已湮沒在歷史長河中的水手建造的紀念碑。

16世紀90年代，武將豐臣秀吉（1537-1598）兩次出兵，試圖經由壹岐、對馬和朝鮮半島征服中國，壹岐的勝本城和對馬的清水山城是這兩次遠征的軍事據點。但入侵均以失敗告終，邊境島嶼和朝鮮半島之間的關係也因此暫時中斷。

17世紀初，在對馬藩主「宗」家的不懈努力下，兩國關係得以恢復。在整個江戶時代（1603-1867），宗家負責管理朝鮮王朝與德川幕府之間的外交事務，作為回報，他們獲得了壟斷日本與朝鮮間貿易的特權。前往德川幕府的朝鮮通信使代表團都會途徑對馬，島上的宗家陵墓萬松院和船江船塢等遺址都是對雙邊貿易繁榮的見證。

壹岐、對馬和五島列島上的所有遺址、風俗和文物，都折射出這些島嶼與亞洲大陸交流的歷史，它們被共同登記為日本遺產「國境之島 壹岐、對馬、五島～遠古以來的橋樑～」。

国境之岛

纵观历史，九州西海岸的壹岐岛、对马岛和五岛列岛一直是日本与亚洲大陆接触和交流的最前沿。这些边境岛屿上的古墓、寺庙、古代聚落和要塞遗址，以及至今犹存的习俗和礼仪，都在讲述着一段长达2300年的贸易、冲突和文化交流的故事。

一般认为，早在公元前，日本列岛就已经开始与壹岐以及对马所在的对马海峡对岸的亚洲大陆开始定期交流了。公元3世纪时的中国历史典籍《三国志·魏志倭人传》最早记载了互动史实。《魏志倭人传》中一段关于曹魏使者经朝鲜半岛前往日本邪马台王国的故事里，描述了对马和古老的壹岐国都城“原之辻”（音同“十”）的情景。

在被指定为国家特别史迹的原之辻遗址和毗邻的一支国博物馆可以了解壹岐的历史，它曾是壹岐人与朝鲜半岛、中国和日本本土商人及旅行者交换商品和信息的商贸中心。对马博物馆则详细展示了对马的早期历史。

据推测，来自日本本土的势力吞并了壹岐王国，并在公元6世纪至7世纪将此岛作为对朝鲜半岛战争的中转站。彼时，岛上还建造了几百座古坟，可能是权贵武士的陵墓。许多古坟保存完好，其中一些面向公众开放。

6世纪中叶，随着日本及其朝鲜盟国百济的野心被中国唐朝和朝鲜新罗王国终结，对马和壹岐成了抵御大陆入侵的要塞和烽火台网络的关键据点。对马的金田城被认为是这一网络的第一道防线，壹岐的岳之辻应该是用来向九州预警外来敌袭的烽火台。

尽管政治局势紧张，但7世纪也是和平交流活跃的时期。自630年起，为了学习中国文化和文明，日本开始定期向唐朝派遣外交和贸易使团“遣唐使”。这些使团最初经壹岐和对马出海，但从702年开始，改用从五岛列岛直接横跨东海这条更短但凶险万分的路线。五岛列岛上有许多与遣唐使有关的遗址，其中包括海风肆虐的三井乐半岛——许多遣唐使团的船只都从这里出发。

在日本中世纪（12-16世纪）和冲突不断的战国时代(1467-1568)，对马海峡两岸的交流形式可谓多种多样。边境岛屿的商人和海盗在朝鲜和中国沿海进行贸易和掠夺，其中一些人积累了可观的财富，并获得了一定程度的政治独立。壹岐岛的生池城就是由一位特别成功的商人所建，而五岛列岛中的日岛石塔群则是为那些名字已湮没在历史长河中的水手建造的纪念碑。

16世纪90年代，武将丰臣秀吉(1537-1598)两次出兵，试图经由壹岐、对马和朝鲜半岛征服中国，壹岐的胜本城和对马的清水山城是这两次远征的军事据点。但入侵均以失败告终，边境岛屿和朝鲜半岛之间的关系也因此暂时中断。

17世纪初，在对马藩主“宗”家族的不懈努力下，两国关系得以修复。在整个江户时代(1603-1867)，宗家族负责管理朝鲜王朝与德川幕府之间的外交事务，作为回报，他们获得了垄断日本与朝鲜间贸易的特权。前往德川幕府的朝鲜通信使代表团都会途径对马，岛上的宗家族陵墓万松院和船江船坞等遗址都是对双边贸易繁荣的见证。

壹岐、对马和五岛列岛上的所有遗址、风俗和文物，都折射出这些岛屿与亚洲大陆交流的历史，它们被共同登记为日本遗产“国境之岛 壹岐、对马、五岛～远古以来的桥梁～”。