A Comprehensive Study on Mining-Metallurgy Industry in the Chugoku Region from the Ancient Age to the Early Modern Age

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1) The remains of the Naganobori Copper Mine date back to antiquity. The site has yielded Japan's earliest archaeological mining finds. In this study, a historical-philological approach was adopted since several inscribed wooden slips (mokkan) have already been excavated from the site. This approach was supplemented by field investigation. Results are presented in "A Preliminary Study of Copper Production in Ancient Nagato Province : Focusing on the Investigation on Naganobori Sites and the wooden Slips Excavated there," authored by Yoshinori Hashimoto and quoting from the results of the preceding research period, "A Historical Resource Database concerning Mines and Mineral Localities in Ancient Japan."2) The investigators carried out a historical survey of temple bells and their inscriptions in the dominion of the medieval ruling family of Ouchi. Based on the research results, Takayuki Maki discusses political and cultural issues concerning the Ouchi family during the Warring State Pe … More riod in an article titled "On the Medieval Temple Bell and its Inscriptions at Koryuji Temple in the Province of Suo."3) For the research into Chugoku mining industry in the Early Modern Period, field investigation was carried out at two copper mine sites : Besshi and Sasagatani. Philological researches were also fruitfully conducted the -Mori Family Library documents in Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives, the Nozawa file in Shimane Prefectural Library, and the documents preserved in Hori Garden in Tsuwano-city were investigated. Using the collected materials, Seiji Tanaka produced two articles : "The Sasagatani Copper Mine during the Horeki and Meiwa Periods [ 1751-71]," and "Hagi-han's Indebtedness during the Tenpou Period [ 1830-43]." Based on the same materials, Fukumi Kawamoto's article "On the Sekishu-gari of Hagi-han" examines the Hagi Clan's debt problems concerning the loan business funded by capital diverted from the mining operations in Sasagatani. Furthermore, the investigators transcribed several relevant handwritten documents in the Mori Family Library into typeface Less