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Transactions on Engineering and Computing Sciences - Vol. 12, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/tecs.123.17021.
Yoshida, K. (2024). Traces of Ancient Surveying in Japan. Transactions on Engineering and Computing Sciences, 12(3). 88-100.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Traces of Ancient Surveying in Japan
Kaoru Yoshida
Member of Association of Shimane Professional Engineers
(41 Hokuryo-cho, Matsue city, Shimane Prefecture 690-0816, Japan)
ABSTRACT
Grasping the geography/topography of the land is one of the most important tasks
in nation-building throughout the ages. In Ancient Izumo Province, Mt. Daisen and
Mt. Sanbe were clear landmarks for the purpose. On the other hand, a large number
of bronze artifacts were excavated from Shidanioku Site, Kojindani Site, and Kamo- iwakura Site in this province. These bronze artifacts were buried around the 1st
century AD. If we examine the correlation using the latitude and longitude
(numerical data) of landmark mountains and the bronze burial sites, we will find
that Mt. Daisen, Mt. Sanbe, and the Shidanioku Site form a large isosceles triangle. It
can also be seen that Mt. Daikoku and Mt. Takase, as well as Kojindani Site and
Kamo-iwakura Site, which are seen as two pairs, form two isosceles triangles with a
common base. They show that Ancient Izumo Province in the 1st century AD had
maps for selecting burial sites and surveying techniques for making maps. There
was also surveying techniques for indicating the burial sites in the field. These are
the oldest surveying traces in Japan for which evidence can be shown.
Keywords: ancient surveying, ancient maps, bronze artifacts, Kojindani Site, Ancient
Izumo Province.
INTRODUCTION
Rice cultivation was introduced to Japan from the downstream area of the Changjiang River in
China during the Yayoi period (In general, 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD). At that time, it is
believed that there was surveying technology for creating paddy fields and constructing
irrigation systems. However, descriptions about surveying methods and related relics have not
been remained. It is also unknown whether or not a surveying was conducted to grasp the
geography/topography of wide area. Izumo region (provisionally named Ancient Izumo
Province) in the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture, which is the subject of this study, is an area
of about 80 km from east to west and about 60 km from north to south.
Many relics from the Yayoi period have been confirmed in this area. Especially, as Table 1
shows, the number of bronze artifacts excavated in Izumo region is greater than that in other
regions of Japan. From 1984 to the following year, 358 bronze swords, 16 bronze socketed
spearheads, and 6 bronze bells were excavated from Kojindani Site. Subsequently, 39 bronze
bells were excavated from Kamo-iwakura Site in 1996. These discoveries reminded us that 3
bronze bells and 6 bronze swords were excavated at Shidanioku Site in 1972. These bronze
artifacts were used for rituals and are said to have been buried in the 1st century AD in Izumo
region [1]. However, the detailed usage pattern and the reasons for burial are unknown.
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Yoshida, K. (2024). Traces of Ancient Surveying in Japan. Transactions on Engineering and Computing Sciences, 12(3). 88-100.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/tecs.123.17021
(a) Kojindani Site. (b) Kamo-iwakura Site.
Figure 1: Restored bronze artifacts.
Table 1: Sites (Remains) where many bronze artifacts were excavated in Japan.
Name of Site Prefectrure bronze sword bronze socketed spearhead bronze bell bronze
dagger-axe
Yanagisawa Nagano 6 8
Oiwayama Shiga 24
Sakuragaoka Hyogo 14 7
Kojindani Shimane 358 16 6
Kamo-iwakura 39
Shidanioku 6 3
Hoshigochi Tokushima 7
Gahaishisan Kagawa 5 1
Haramachi Fukuoka 49
Momijigaoka 27
Antoku-harada 12
(a) Replicas of the bronze artifacts. (b) Bronze dagger-axe and “Magatama” of jadeite.
Figure 2: Bronze artifacts [1].
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Transactions on Engineering and Computing Sciences (TECS) Vol 12, Issue 3, June - 2024
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Another characteristic of Ancient Izumo Province is one of the most mythological areas in Japan.
The "Kunibiki (pulling land) Myth" recorded in the Izumo-no-kuni Fudoki (edited in 733,
abbreviation: Izumo Fudoki) is a magnificent myth related to geography/topography. The
Shimane Peninsula, which faces the Sea of Japan, was created by a god pulling together four
lands, including the Korean Peninsula and the Noto Peninsula. Then, Mt. Daisen and Mt. Sanbe
were used as piles to tie the lands. This myth tells us that Mt. Daisen and Mt. Sanbe played an
important role in the creation of the province at the beginning.
Mt. Daisen and Mt. Sanbe, landmarks that represent this region, are now designated as a same
national park, although they are far apart.
This paper describes the existence of surveying techniques and maps in the early days of Japan
by grasping the relationship between the landmark-mountains and the sites of bronze artifact
burials in Ancient Izumo Province.
(a) Location of Izumo Province. (b) Mythology of “Kunibiki”.
Figure 3: Location of Izumo Province and Mythology of “Kunibiki”.
Figure 4: Landscapes of mountains.
EXISTING LITERATURES
Organize literatures on ancient surveying and geography/topography in Japan.
Civil Engineering Field
Pre-Meiji Civil Engineering History describes that a part of the body was used as a scale in
ancient times [2]. Though, there is no mention of surveying about a wide area in the time.