Investigation of the value of Sacred place on natural disasters and restoration

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26740047
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental and ecological symbiosis
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Fujita Naoko 九州大学, 芸術工学研究院, 准教授 (20466808)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 神社 / 自然災害 / 社叢 / グリーンインフラ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we describe the effects of the location and design of sacred places, such as shrines, with consideration of security against natural disasters, and the ecological and biocultural characteristics of the selected site. Shrine forests are protected and managed in near-natural conditions for purposes of religious worship, and many are located in ecologically rich areas. These forests thus provide ecological benefits, such as the maintenance of water and air quality, providing habitats for wildlife, and functioning as refugia for native plants.
Many shrine forests are located in areas considered safe from the effects of natural disasters, and placed under legislative protection by being designated as national or regional monuments of historical value. Shrines have a scattered distribution across the landscape, but are typically associated with specific geographical features such as small hills, springs, streams, and rivers, which are themselves objects of nature worship.

Free Research Field

景観生態学