Oral Abstract Details

Author(s):
Chen, Bixia; Nakama, Yuei

Affiliation:
School of Economics, Fujian Normal University;Department of Subtropical Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus

Presentation Type:
Oral

Topic Area:
Urban forestry and urban agriculture

Abstract Text:
A Feng Shui village landscape features Fukugi (Garcinia subelliptica Merr.) tree lines surrounding every house and orderly laid out roads. Such a green landscape, which was planned or reformed during modern Ryukyuan period around 300 yrs ago, is well preserved in Okinawa Isl. and its nearby isolated islands. But it is still a mystery to the historians when and how these Fukugi trees were planted. In order to clarify the development process of the house-embracing Fukugi trees, as well as the distribution of Feng Shui villages in Okinawa, we have visited almost all the traditional villages and measured the remnant old Fukugi trees. The field survey area is on Okinawa Gundo, which includes mainland Okinawa and its nearby isolated small islands. It was found that huge Fukugi trees older than 200 yrs, cluster around the core area around kami-asagi or haisyo inside the village. Both kami-asagi and haisyo are sacred places where guardian gods were summoned in order to hold ceremonies and rituals. Biggest trees found in mainland Okinawa is estimated to be 370 yrs. Fukugi trees older than 300 yrs also exist in some villages. These old trees might have been planted prior to the period from 1737 to 1750 when Saion was in power, during which Fukugi trees were planned and recommended. Fukugi trees might have been planted as windbreak around the houses before Saion period, however, the current house-embracing Fukugi tree landscape came into being during the Saion period based on Feng Shui concept.