Study on the geological heritage viewed from the description of nature in the Izumonokuni-fudoki, and the application to the modern world.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K02110
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tourism Studies
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: Nomura Ritsuo 島根大学, 学術研究院教育学系, 特任教授 (30144687)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 地質遺産 / 出雲国風土記 / 地球神話（学） / 島根半島 / 日本海形成 / ジオパーク / ジオダイバーシティー / 国引き神話

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many of the myths and legends are regional topics because they originated in people's spheres of life. These include disaster myths passed down in folklore related to disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, as well as explanatory myths about the formation of the natural environment and characteristic landforms of the region and its surroundings. The Shimane Peninsula area has formed a complex geological belt due to geological changes related to the formation of the Japan Sea. Therefore, the Izumo-no-kuni Fudoki contains many explanatory myths related to topography and geology. However, the causality of myth formation with reference to natural conditions was outside the interest of many people. In this study, geoscientific verification of these myths and legends has provided a foundation for the present-day view of nature held by ancient peoples.

Free Research Field

地質学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本海の形成史と関連した島根半島の変動地質について，その岩相層序，地質年代，古環境の変遷を生層序学的手法用いて明らかにし，神話伝説との因果関係を地質学的に説明するという学術の基盤づくりを行うことができた。そして，現在，それらの成果を基にして，出雲国風土記や雲陽誌にみられる古代の自然観を地質学的立場から情報を発信し，「地球神話（学）」の新しい分野を展開しつつある。成果はユネスコのジオパークが唱える歴史文化と融合した地質遺産として，地域振興・地域教育・ジオツアー等に寄与することができる。