Скачать или смотреть The History of Boundary Trees in a Japanese Agricultural Landscape

This video summarizes a 2022 article entitled "Anthropogenic legacies shaping the present composition of demarcation trees in a temperate upland field landscape in Japan" from the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

Purpose: The study aimed to uncover the historical background of demarcation trees (trees planted to mark boundaries) in agricultural landscapes in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It examines how different tree species were used across different historical periods.

Methods: The researchers combined several sources:
Review of 39 land dispute documents from the early modern period (1600–1868).
Analysis of late nineteenth-century maps (Rapid Survey Map).
Comparison with present-day demarcation tree records (1486 trees of six species).
Interviews with 48 local farmers, most of whom were elderly.

Findings: In the early modern period, large, visually prominent trees like pines were used for boundaries of vast communal lands and villages. Smaller trees were used for smaller-scale areas.

Pourthiaea villosa planting seems to have increased significantly during the Meiji period (late 19th/early 20th century) when communal forests were divided. Its present distribution is strongly associated with former forests and shrub/grasslands.

Deutzia crenata is dominant in older farmlands. Its ritual use and ancient records suggest its use as a demarcation tree may date back to medieval or even ancient periods (7th century onwards).

Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Mulberry (Morus spp.) trees found today are likely remnants of past cultivation efforts. Tea is associated with older farmlands, while Mulberry is linked to former shrub/grasslands.

Euonymus japonicus and Celtis sinensis show a more recent increase in use for demarcation, possibly influenced by post-WWII gardening trends (E. japonicus).

Conclusion: The current composition of demarcation tree species in this landscape is a result of dynamic, overlapping historical legacies spanning centuries. Different species were introduced in different periods due to land division, changing agricultural practices, and cultural preferences.

License & Access Link: This video summarizes the original article, reused under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Yoshinori, T., Kenichiro, K., & Mitsunori, O. (2022). Anthropogenic legacies shaping the present composition of demarcation trees in a temperate upland field landscape in Japan. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 18(45). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00...