蔡温『林政八書』にみる環境保全と森林行政 : 琉球王国における問題提起

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タイトル別名
  • Forest Preservation and Environmental Awareness in Saion's ‘Rinsei hassho'
  • サイオン 『 リンセイ ハチショ 』 ニ ミル カンキョウ ホゼン ト シンリン ギョウセイ : リュウキュウ オウコク ニ オケル モンダイ テイキ

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説明

Environmental issues have become a global concern in the twenty-first century. Nineteenth century intellectuals are known to be the first to raise concerns on natural environment as a critical response to the Industrial Revolution. It is interesting to note that such ecological awareness can be seen among eighteenth century intellectuals as well. This paper will focus and analyze environmental concerns and awareness seen in the political works of Saion 蔡温 (1682-1761) who was a politician and diplomat of the Ryukyu Kingdom, now Okinawa prefecture. Saion was a descendant of Chinese immigrants who came to Okinawa in the late fourteenth century. At the age of twenty-seven, he went abroad to Fujian Province and studied both the Wang Yang-ming school of Confucianism and feng shui theory. After returning to Okinawa, he went on an expedition tour of the archipelago. In no time he was promoted as political administer to King Sho Kei 尚敬 and carried out a series of political reforms, which restored the later half of the rule of Ryukyu Kingdom. Saion's policy is said to be under influence of feng shui theory, but his forest administration shows that he had realistic concerns to prevent environmental destruction. Saion repeats in 'Rinsei hassho' 林政八書 to plant and preserve indispensable trees for shipbuilding. He estimated that once it is impossible to provide necessary limber for firewood and vessels, Okinawa will be unfit for human habitation. Sailing ships were essential for life. It is for this reason he bans illegal shipbuilding. Laws were extremely strict against dug out canoes, which require big trees. He also encouraged farmers to plant tall trees fit for sailing masts and urged them to refrain from slash-burn farming methods. Saion knew that impoverished farmers would yield to illegal deforestation and focused on economic reforms to improve their living conditions. At the end of the nineteenth century, Okinawa was known for its dark green pine forests and tropical flora. However, the fruits of Saion's forest administration were lost in the final stage of World War II. Warfare had reduced everything to ashes. Nevertheless, readers can learn form Saion's works on environmental policy, ecology and sustainable development.

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