Brief Description

Located in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, these villages with their Gassho-style houses subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. The large houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs are the only examples of their kind in Japan. Despite economic upheavals, the villages of Ogimachi, Ainokura and Suganuma are outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people's social and economic circumstances.

The 19th World Heritage Committee, at the 1995 conference held in Berlin, Germany, decided to inscribe Japan's nominated property, "The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go, Gifu prefecture Traditional Houses in the Gassho Zukuri"(合掌造り), on the World Heritage List.

Shirakawago（白川郷）is widely-known as one of the most scenic places in Japan. It is

surrounded by pine tree covered mountains, and it is located along the picturesque Shokawa river. Besides the beautiful scenery, the unique Japanese thatched-roof farmhouses are the center of attraction. There are approximately 180 thatched farmhouses, sheds, and barns, and most of them were built about 200-300 years ago. The residents of Shirakawago still live in several small villages. The most popular village for visitors is Ogimachi which in 1995 was declared World Cultural and Heritage　Site. Although it is off the beaten track, Shirakawago is well worth the visit.The physical expression of the unique culture of the Shirakawa-go is the vernacular architectural style known as Gassho-zukuri, characterized by its large, steeply-pitched thatched gable roof. "Gassho" in Japanese literally means "praying hands", suggesting the form of hands raised in prayer to the Buddha. The style name refers to the shape of the roof. The triangular form of sloped structural members joined together at the top. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

This unique steeply-sloped roof structure was innovated to provide work space in theatric levels of the house, as well as to prevent excessive mass of snow in this heavy-snowfall region. This interior of the roof volume was typically divided into two to four levels which could be used for raising silkworms (yosan－養蚕). To bear the floor loads, 25-to 30cm-diameter wooden members were used to make the structural frame.

In the Shirakawago area the roof re-thatching work was and still is carried out in the traditional manner, following a mutual-help system known as yui.（結い）

The historic village landscape, including the cultivated land, stone walls, and historic roads, has been well protected. There are twenty Gassho-style houses remaining in the preservation district. Most of these houses were built between the end of the Edo period and the end of the Meiji period (early 19th to beginning of 20th century), but the oldest is judged to date back to the 17th century. This district was designated as a national Historic Site in 1970 and was selected as a national important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in 1994.

Words： picturesque 絵のように美しい / Line 6

thatched-roof 草葺き屋根 / Line 7

beaten track 道から外れた / Line 12

　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　

　

  1. The 19th World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe Shirakawago on the list. (T)

  2. Shirakawago is located in Nagano prefecture. (F)

  3. Shirakawago is located along Shimanto River. (F)

  4. The most popular village in Shirakawago is Ogimachi. (T)

  5. The traditional House is called “Gassho-Zukuri”. (T)

  6. “Gassho” in Japanese means “praying to God”. (F)

  7. “Yosan” in Japanese means “raising silkworms” (T)

  8. There are twelve Gassho style houses in the preservation district. (F)

  9. Most of the houses were built from the beginning of the Edo period. (F)

  10. It was designated National Historic site in 1981. (F)

　

　

1. Gifu prefecture lies to the ( ) of Japan.

1. Middle West 2. Center 3. South

2. Gifu prefecture is famous for ( ).

1. Japanese lantern 2. shallot 3. Salmon

　

3. The population of Gifu is about ( ).

1. four million 2. one hundred thousand 3. two million

4. Ogimachi in kanji (Chinese character) is ( ).

1. 荻町 2. 小木町 3. 雄木町

5. The other place famous for Gassho-Zukuri is ( ).

1. Gokayama 2. Yoshinogari 3. Kumanokodo

6. The prefecture which lies to the north of Gifu is ( ).

1. Kagoshima 2. Toyama 3. Shizuoka

　

7. The seat of the prefectural government of Gifu is ( ).

1. Takayama 2. Ogaki 3. Gifu

8. Gifu prefecture can be divided into two regions. Those are :

1. Mino and Hida 2. Nakadouri and Hamadouri 3. Osumi and Satsuma

9. UNESCO adopted the World Heritage treaty in ( ).

1. 1980 2. 1975 3. 1972

10. Japan joined UNESCO in ( ).

1. 1940 2. 1951 3. 1932

　

　

　

１．The 19th World Committee, at the 1995 conference held in Berlin, Germany, decided to inscribe Japan’s nominated property ,” The HistoricVillages of Shirakawago, Gifu prefecture Traditional Houses in the Gassho Zukuri, on the World Heritage List.

解答：ドイツのベルリンで開かれた１９９５年度開催の第１９回世界遺産委員会は、日本の世界遺産候補地としてあがっていた“岐阜県白川郷の古村・合掌造りの歴史的家屋”を世界遺産に登録することを決定した。

２．Shirakawago is surrounded by pine tree mountains, and it is located along the picturesque Shokawa River.

解答：白川郷は松ノ木々の山に囲まれており、又絵のように美しく人目を

引く庄川沿いに位置している。

３．This interior of the roof volume was typically divided into two to four levels which could be used for raising silkworms.

解答：この屋根裏内部は蚕を飼えるように、２～４の階層に分けるのが普通だった。

４．The historic village landscape, including the cultivated land, stone walls, and historic roads, has been well protected.

解答：耕作地、石壁、旧道を含む歴史的古村の風景は良い状態で保護されてきた。

５．This district was selected as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in 1994.

解答：この地区は1994年に歴史的建造物群で、国の重要保護地区に選ばれた。

　

　

　

　

Shirakawago is really close to Takayama city which is famous for sightseeing.

I recommend Takayama city to you!

It is worth visiting!!

Here are some pictures of Takayama.

　

古い町並みの道わきに・・　　　　　　　高山名物　さるぼぼ

　

　

朴葉味噌に飛騨牛をのっけて・・　　　　　飛騨牛串焼き！！

現在の合掌造りの映像：　白川村ホームページ Live Shirakawago!

　　http://shirakawa-go.org/live-user/j-monitor.asp

地図: Access to Shirakawago

　　

白川郷内の地図　Inside Shirakawago!

青山学院大学　３年M組　２１番　　　篠田将行