Hanta Road
The Hanta Road (ハンタ道, Hantamichi) is a historical road in the southern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. During the Gusuku period (14th to 17th century), it served as the major route for travel between Shuri Castle, Nakagusuku Castle, Kōchi Castle (幸地グスク) and Katsuren Castle.
History
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The road is believed to have been created in the early part of the 14th century. Hanta (ハンタ) is Okinawan for "cliff", referring to the route's proximity to the seashore.[1] From the 15th century, the road became part of the Nakagami-hō Tōkaidō (中頭方東海道, lit. 'Nakagami-side East Sea Route') post road, paralleling the Tōkaidō road in mainland Japan.[1]
Control of the gusuku castles along the road was often contested, and during the Gosamaru-Amawari Rebellion armies on both sides traveled along it. Shō Taikyū's eventual victory gave the Ryukyu Kingdom firm control of the entire road.[2]
In 1671, the Tōkaidō was realigned to serve the newly founded majiri (district) of Ginowan and the original Hanta Michi was reduced to a local road.[1]
In 1853, the first Perry Expedition landed in Okinawa and crossed along the Hanta Michi, planting an American flag atop a large rock now known as Perry's Banner Rock (ペリーの旗立岩).[3]
Current status
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About 330 meters of the original road remain near Arakaki (新垣). Excavations have uncovered stone paving from the 15th century and early modern times. The early modern road is 1.8 to 2.4 meters wide, with irregular smaller stones laid on the road surface and larger stones used for the curb.[1]
The gusuku of Shuri, Nakagusuku and Katsuren form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu. A 6.2km portion of the route near Nakagusuku has been paved and opened to the public as the Nakagusuku Hanta Michi (中城ハンタ道) walking trail.[3] In 2015, the area was designated a Historic Site of Japan.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "中城ハンタ道 文化遺産オンライン". bunka.nii.ac.jp.
- ^ Smits, Gregory (2008). "Money in the Kingdom of Ryukyu". In Hirzel, Thomas; Kim, Nanny (eds.). Metals, Monies, and Markets in Early Modern Societies: East Asian and Global Perspectives. Vol. 1. Münster: LIT Verlag. pp. 233–234. ISBN 9783825808228.
- ^ a b c "中城ハンタ道マップ". （一社）中城村観光協会.