Monograph No. 30
GOJO A RECORD OF CHANGING TOWNSCAPE IN 1975-1977
GOJO
‐ A record of changing townscape ‐
PREFACE
Gojo, situated on the north-east side of the Yoshino River, in Nara prefecture, is a city with long history. Because there are still so many houses from the Edo period, it is easy to imagine what it must have looked like as a city during that period.
This report is a summary of the investigation carried out by Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute since 1975. In that year The Agency for Cultural Affairs directed that Gojo and nine other historical towns be studied for the conservation of their historical townscapes. The study of Gojo was carried out with the cooperation of the city.
The research consisted of the following.
1. Drawing a map of the study area at a scale of 1:2000, and drawing survey charts of the houses appearing on the map.
2. Taking aerial photographs of the city and study area: overhead photographs of 1:2000 and 1:600 scales respectively, and a panoramic aerial view.
3. Conducting photogrammetric research of the elevations of the houses on the east side of Gojo’s Shinmachi street.
4. Drawing a scetch of the continuous facade of houses along Shinmachi street at a scale of 1:200, and drawing accompanying survey charts of the houses appearing in the sketch.
5. Surveying building fronts and street furniture.
6. Surveying the age, structure, materials, and instances of house remodelling.
7. Drawing, in detail, sectional and house plans.
8. Studying the old drawings and manuscripts of the town.
9. Photographying the townscapes and houses.
10. Conducting a municipal census of the city today.
GOJO IN HISTORY
Judging from the many archaeological sites that have been discovered in the area of Gojo as well as from the number of aristocratic tombs, we know that this area became inhabited well before historical times. When the Fujiwara, a powerful family of the Court, came to control the reigns of the central government during the Nara period (710-784 A.D.), they constructed the Eizanji temple, and the area around Gojo then became the domain of the temple. During the several centuries from the Nara period to the beginning of the Edo period in the 17th century, the control of this domain changed hands several times.
After the battle of Sekigahara (1600), the Matsukura family came to control this area. They built a town called Shinmachi or “New Town” between the then exitent towns of old Gojo and Futami. With the Matsukura family moving away to Shimabara in Kyushu, the area around Gojo came under the direct control of the Tokugawa government. This control was to last until 1868. Throughout the Edo period Gojo prospered as a post town as it was favourablly located at a major traffic junction. Merchants gathered in the city and a regional market was established.
In modern times, with a changing townscape and the remodelling of many dwellings and places of business, Gojo has blossomed into a modern regional city of commerce. As a whole, the traditional style townscape dominated the skyline until the end of World War II as many new houses were still built in the traditional style. Routes 24 and 168, while dividing it into quarters, has not destroyed the historic townscape.
SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF THE STUDY AREA
The study area is located in the historical section of the city. We devided the area into four zones. A, B, and C zones are located along Shinmachi street. Zone D is located along route 168, and Zone E along Sue street. Over 60% of the houses along Shinmachi street have a traditional style architecture characterized by tiled and gabled roofs facing the street, and low second storeys which have thick plastered walls.
The report has found the following changes in houses. The height of the second storey has been made taller, and “hashira-ma sochi” (a genetic Japanese term for installations detween pillars which includes all architectural fixtures functioning as interior or exterior partitions except walls) have changed from their original “shitomi” and “odo” to glass sliding doors and aluminum sash doors.
This report has two unique qualities. First, it used air photographs as a survey technique. Such photographs made it possible to observe objects impossible to be seen from ground level. Air photographs also enabled us to graphically show the change that has occured over a period of time and actual traffic conditions at a given time. Secondly, the report took as a proper concern the remodelling of houses.
When we compare the air photographs with old drawings, we are able to ascertain the fact that there had been no major change in the earlier land devision pattern.
For the inhabitants, some sort of remodelling like making new private rooms, modern kitchens, is necessary to be able to live viablly or functionally today within this traditional townscape. Setting aside the question of the necessity of such remodelling, it would appear that we must take into consideration the desires and plans of those living within the traditional townscape. On the other hand, the inhabitants ought, we think, to be proud of their traditional townscape and they should by all means possible use traditional materials and traditional designs to remodell their dwellings.
As a summary the report has found that the main reason for the visual change of the townscape is due to the remodelling of facade of dwellings as well as that of shopfronts. It was found that also the attaching of signboards to buildings is an important change to the traditional townscape.
THE CITY; CONSERVATION AND URBAN DEVELOPEMENT
Recently there has been a growing interest in how to conserve the old streets and houses of Gojo city. Because the city, with a population of 35,000 people, still returns its function as a market center of the area, and in front is continuing to develope, any future conservation policy with regard to the city will surely have to incorporate an urban developement policy into its aims. In order to conserve .the old style of life while not restricting the daily lives of present inhabitants, the appropriate authorities would be well advised to employ professionals who are capable of dealing with both urban developement and conservation. Under the new Low for the Protection of Cultural Properties it is now possible for local authorities to request national funds and support for the conservation of their historical townscapes.
昭和52年3月31日 発行
五條 ‐町並調査の記録‐
奈良国立文化財研究所学報 第三十冊
