the town of merchant and riverside: Oumi-hachiman 1

＜　Hachiman canal　＞

In late April, I went to Oumi-hachiman in which there is the historical scenery of the town.

Here is a tourist spot that was known for the old houses of merchant and the canal.

That day was blessed with fine weather and a guide, and I had a good time.

4月下旬、歴史を感じさせる近江八幡に行きました。

ここは古い商家の街並みと掘りで知られた観光地です。

快晴とガイドに恵まれて、楽しい1日を過ごしました。

＜　Upper map: red mark is Oumi-hachiman, Shiga prefecture. Lower photo: I walked inside a red frame.　＞

At lower photo, a town spreads at the foot of Hachiman hill where is in center, and Lake Biwa is visible beyond it.

A green bent line in it is Hachiman canal, and the riverside area spreads to Lake Biwa.

下の写真で、中央の八幡山麓に町が広がり、奥に琵琶湖が見える。

折れ曲がった緑の線が八幡堀で、琵琶湖側には水郷が広がっています。

＜　Shin-machi street　＞

There are the streets of the Oumi merchant who played an active part from Edo period to Meiji period.

Beyond 400 years, I felt the Oumi merchant's breath.

Hachiman hill is visible to the back.

Hidetugu Toyotomi, chief adviser to the Emperor, lived in the castle of the summit.

Beginning of this town is that he gathered merchants and protected.

These merchants have moved from the foot of Azuchi Castle that Nobunaga built about 5 km away from here.

This east shore of Lake Biwa had been important as a lodgement of east-west transportation by land and north-south water transport for many years.

江戸時代から明治時代に活躍した近江商人の商家が並ぶ。

４００年の時を越えて、近江商人の息吹が感じられる。

奥に八幡山が見えるが、この山頂に関白豊臣秀次が居を構え、商人を集め庇護したのが、この町の興りです。

この商人達は５ｋｍほど離れた信長の建てた安土城城下から移転して来た。

琵琶湖東岸のこの地は、古くから東西の陸運と南北の水運の要衝地だったのです。

＜　Hachiman canal　＞

Those days, Hachiman canal which leads to Lake Biwa was crowded with water transport, and played a role of the moat of a castle.

当時、琵琶湖に通じる八幡堀は水運で賑わい、城の外堀の役割を担った。

＜　Left photo: while shooting Hachiman canal . Right photo: One scene of drama Mito Komon　＞

＜　upper photo: Hakuunnkann. Lower phpto:  Vories, Mentholatum, Kwansei Gakuin University ＞

At the early Meiji period, the Hakuunnkann is a school that Oumi merchants built and managed.

Vories who had been invited from the United States as an English teacher, played an active part in a Christianity evangelist, a philanthropist, an architect, and a business person.

He met MacArthur after the war and advised on Tenno system continuation of Japan.

Thus, the Oumi merchant's spirit has induced the further deployment.

Next time is followed.

明治初期、白雲館は近江商人の寄付で建てられ運営された学校です。

英語教師としてアメリカから招かれたヴォーリズは、キリスト教伝道者、慈善家、さらに建築家、製薬事業家として活躍することになりました。

彼は戦後マッカーサーと会い、日本の天皇制存続のアドバイスをしている。

このように近江商人の心意気が、更なる展開を生んだのです。

次回に続きます.