Development of Tatara Iron Manufacturing and Usage of Forest Resources, in the Edo period

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520754
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese history
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: SATAKE Akira 広島大学, 総合科学研究科, 教授 (00127656)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: たたら製鉄 / 森林資源

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tatara iron making in Matsue domain developed to the center of iron production in the Edo period. Tatara iron manufacturing needed a large amount of charcoal when they produced iron. The charcoal was obtained from the natural forest called Tetsuzan. Tatara enterpriser bought much of Tetsuzan and established its iron manufacturing.
The Matsue feudal clan ordered the enterpriser to limit the number of ironworks on 1726. It was called Tetsukata-Housiki, and was the policy to ensure the sustainability of their production and use. As a specific example of the Tatara enterpriser, I studied historic process of the land accumulation for Tatara iron making by Bokura family in Okuizumo, and compared its character with other Tatara enterpriser.

Free Research Field

日本史