Civil engineering historical research on the castle construction technology of the Ryukyu Islands

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00957
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03050:Archaeology-related
• Research Institution: Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Masaaki 沖縄県立芸術大学, 芸術文化研究所, 研究員 (80789488)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 石井 龍太 城西大学, 経営学部, 准教授 (00712655) ; 森 達也 沖縄県立芸術大学, 美術工芸学部, 教授 (70572402)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 石積み技術の変化 / 石積みの高層化 / グスク時代の土木技術 / 築城技術の独自性 / 城郭概念の確立

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project was launched with academic originality and creativity, and the proposition was set to interpret the changes in civil engineering technology seen in ruins that were transformed into fortified sites while capturing the spread of technology in private exchanges between regions, which differ from exchanges between nations. An attempt was made to interpret the spread of technology in the Ryukyu Islands from surrounding regions, such as mainland China and the Japanese archipelago, through the civil engineering technology projected onto the gusuku.
As a result, it was pointed out that stone masonry technology was a civil engineering technique that was established independently within the Ryukyu Islands, while at the same time it became clear that the influence of surrounding regions could be confirmed in terms of territorial design. It also became clear that the manner in which it was adopted varied greatly depending on the region.

Free Research Field

考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究においては東アジアにおける土木技術についての歴史的な背景を考古学的な視点から明らかにさせようとしたことにより、土木技術そのものの意義を物質的な観点で捉えることがある適度、可能であることを示した。時代の要請により土木技術の力点がどの側面において強く現れ出てくるのかは、地域性や人材の動員力、資材確保のための他者との関係性、そして地域権力との有り様によって変容してくると言える。
このような東アジアにおける土木技術史を検証し整理したことで、今日に見る土木技術の抱えている課題や将来における技術の方向性について、考えていく上での素材として、本研究は社会的意義を見出すことができるものと言える。