Chashi
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Tyashi.jpg/250px-Tyashi.jpg)
Chashi (チャシ also
Form
The early Dutch explorer Maarten Gerritsz Vries described the chashi he encountered in eastern Hokkaidō in 1643:[3]
These forts were made as follows: on the mountain on which they were placed was a small road steep to climb, and round on the four sides palisades were placed of the height … of 1½ man's length; within this stood two or three houses. There were large fir doors in the palisades with strong clamps; when they were closed, two stout bars were passed through the clamps and thus fastened to them. At the two corners of these … palisades, a high scaffolding is made of fir planks, for a lookout.
Competition for resources
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Nemurohanto_chashiatogun_onnemotochashi.jpg/250px-Nemurohanto_chashiatogun_onnemotochashi.jpg)
In 1604 Tokugawa Ieyasu granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu to the Matsumae clan; lacking an agricultural base, the domain was dependent on trade; the Ainu in turn became increasingly dependent upon Japanese commodities and prestige goods.[1][5] Excavated chashi have revealed Japanese lacquerware, ceramics, ironware, and swords, as well as beads perhaps from Sakhalin; consumables included rice, sake, and tobacco.[1] In return the Ainu traded products derived from bird, beast, and fish; plants and medicines; and goods imported via Sakhalin.[1] However, "the market culture of the trading post … destroy[ed] the ecological balance … [through] overhunting and overfishing".[1] By the end of the following century, the depletion of natural stocks resulted in famine.[1] Furthermore, "competition over animals and fisheries was at the heart of most Ainu conflicts".[1]
Shakushain's Revolt
The Ezo hōki (
Known chashi
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Katsuragaoka_Chashi.jpg/250px-Katsuragaoka_Chashi.jpg)
Among the approximately five hundred and thirty chashi identified by archaeologists, the sites of eight have been designated national Historic Sites: the Otafunbe chashi;[6] Shibechari River chashi and Appetsu chashi;[7] Moshiriya chashi;[8] Yukuepira chashi;[9] Katsuragaoka chashi;[10] Nemuro Peninsula chashi;[11] and Tsurugataicharanke chashi.[12] Others known include the Arashiyama casi, Harutoru casi, Onibishi's casi, Sarushina casi, Sashirui casi, Setanai casi, and Uraike casi.[1] Although there are nineteen chashi on the Shiretoko Peninsula, it is inscribed as a Natural rather than a mixed Natural and Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site.[13][14]
Functions
In addition to providing for defence against rival Ainu, casi functioned as centres for gatherings and rituals.[1][15] They also served as "visible symbols of chiefdom power".[1] According to narrative uepeker or folktales, Akkeshi and Nemuro Ainu attacked the Uraike casi in the hope of "fine treasure"; other casi were attacked by hungry Ainu looking for venison and dried salmon.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Walker, Brett L (2001). The Conquest of Ainu Lands: Ecology and Culture in Japanese Expansion, 1590-1800. University of California Press. pp. 36–8, 58–67, 93–4, 123–6. ISBN 0-520-22736-0.
- ^ "Chashi". Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ a b Hudson, Mark (2000). Ruins of Identity: Ethnogenesis in the Japanese Islands. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 216–7. ISBN 978-0-824-82156-2.
- ^ Ushiro Hiroshi. "Establishment process of Chashi and Fortified Settlement Sites in Northeast Asia and their environmental change". National Institute of Informatics. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Howell, David L (1995). Capitalism from Within: Economy, Society, and the State in a Japanese Fishery. University of California Press. pp. 27–35. ISBN 978-0-520-08629-6.
- ^ "オタフンベチャシ
跡 " [Otafunbe Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ "シベチャリ
川 流域 チャシ跡 群 及 びアッペツチャシ跡 " [Shibechari River Chashi Site - Appetsu Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ "モシリヤ
砦 跡 " [Moshiriya Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ "ユクエピラチャシ
跡 " [Yukuepira Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ "
桂 ヶ岡 砦 跡 " [Katsuragaoka Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ "
根室半島 チャシ跡 群 " [Nemuro Peninsula Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ "
鶴 ヶ岱チャランケ砦 跡 " [Tsurugataicharanke Chashi Site] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 21 June 2012. - ^ Kato Hirofumi. "World Heritage and Indigenous archaeology in Hokkaido Island" (PDF). Hokkaido University. Retrieved 24 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Shiretoko". UNESCO. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Ushiro Hiroshi. "Systematic structure of protective settlements and Chashi (Fortes Ainu) found in the northern areas, and ethnic encounters". National Institute of Informatics. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)
- All articles with dead external links
- Articles with dead external links from June 2019
- Articles with permanently dead external links
- Articles with short description
- Short description matches Wikidata
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- Pages with plain IPA
- Articles with NDL identifiers
- Chashi
- Ainu
- Castles in Hokkaido