Summary
Houkisugi or Hōkisugi at Nakagawa (箒スギ) is a 2000-year-old Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria) at Nakagawa Settlement, Yamakita town, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
The tree was revered by locals because it prevented a great fire from spreading in 1904. There is still visible fire damage on the tree. On July 12, 1972, it stopped a great landslide and lessened the damage during heavy rainfall in the Tanzawa Mountains.[1][2][3]
It was designated as a national Natural Monument on March 26, 1934.[4][5]
Measurements edit
Houkisugi at Nakagawa is estimated to be more than 2000 years old. Its height is about 45 metres (148 ft). The circumference at head height is 12 metres (39 ft). The circumference around the root is 18 metres (59 ft).
Etymology edit
There are two views about the origin of the term "Houki:" 1) The place was earlier called Houkizawa or 2) the tree is Japanese Broom shaped. Broom is Houki in Japanese.[6][7][8]
History edit
In the Edo era, the felling of trees such as cryptomeria, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Zelkova serrata, firs (Abies), Tsuga sieboldii, or Torreya nucifera was prohibited.[9][10] After the Meiji Restoration, trees which were around the cryptomeria tree were cut down, and the area became a Japanese tea plantation.[11][12] The local people held shinto ceremonies at the local guardian shrine called Suga Shrine on July 12 and October 13 (Festival) thanking the sacred tree. They cleaned the shrine every month. In the summer of 2003, a branch of the tree was broken but the tree was restored to health with the treatment by an arborist.[13]
Recognition edit
- In 1990, this tree was selected as one among the New Japan Noted 100 Trees by Yomiuri Shimbun.
- This tree was selected as one among the 100 Noted Trees in Kanagawa Prefecture.[14]
- In 2001, this tree was selected as one in Kanagawa Prefecture Future Heritage by Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanagawa Shimbun.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Takahashi[2009:64]
- ^ Yomiuri[1990:70-71]
- ^ Watanabe[1999:160]
- ^ "箒スギ" [Hoki Sugi] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ^ "箒杉" [Hoki Sugi] (in Japanese). Yamakita Town. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ Takahashi[2009:64]
- ^ Yomiuri[1990:70-71]
- ^ Watanabe[1999:160]
- ^ Takahashi[2009:64]
- ^ Watanabe[1999:160]
- ^ Takahashi[2009:64]
- ^ Watanabe[1999:160]
- ^ Takahashi[2009:64]
- ^ Yomiuri[1990:70-71]
35°27′30″N 139°03′34″E / 35.45836111°N 139.05938888°E
External links edit
- Hirohaku Takahashi, I visited sacred trees - Pilgrimage of Mysterious and Sacred Big Trees, 2009, Tokyo Chizu Shuppan, ISBN 978-4-8085-8559-4
- Yomiuri Shimbun, New Noted 100 Trees in Japan 1990, Yomiuri Shimbun, ISBN 4-643-90044-X
- Norihiro Watanabe Big Trees 1999, Yamato Keikoku Sha, ISBN 4-635-06251-1
- Houki Sugi, Bunkachou website, article retrieved on February 10, 2012
- Houkisugi Yamakitacho website, article retrieved on February 10, 2012]