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Masuda City Tourist Information Center

Mail:masuda.shimane@gmail.com

〒698-0024 17-2 Ekimae-cho Masuda-shi Shimane Japan

History


A clan of distinguished achievements at the Battle of Dan-no-ura(1185) and in the Onin War(1467), occurred in Iwami Region. The clan had their headquarters in the present Masuda, and had an influence over the Iwami in San-in region.
While the clan consisted of a group of brave warriors, they were patrons of culture and art.

The progenitor of the Masuda clan called himself Fujiwara because his ancestor was Fujiwara no Kamatari, one of the most powerful people in ancient Japan. The progenitor moved to the present Hamada city in Iwami region in the 11th century as the governor of Iwami region. After he finished the mission, the family moved to Masuda village, which was an important traffic hub and also a possible port.
Because the new place was called Masuda, they changed their family name from Fujiwara to Masuda. The Masuda clan became very successful in politics and economics, and had a commanding presence even in the form of the Kamakura bakufu, the Muromachi bakufu and other powerful daimyos, like the Ouchi clan and the Mori clan.

On the other hand, among the four hundred years of their history, there was a sparkling period of culture. The main historical figures of the period were Sesshu Toyo, the prominent artist who perfected Japanese ink painting, and Masuda Kanetaka, the 15th Lord of Masuda.

〜BC300

Tools of the Stone Age and Jomon era were found in Hikimi-town, the southern mountainous part of Masuda city. (Jomon era is a Japanese historical period which is characterized by the pottery with Jomon, a straw-rope pattern) that is used in this era.

Ancient tomb period

400 ~ 600

In this region, ancient tombs were constructed between the 4th century and the end of the 6th century.

An ancient Chinese mirror was found in Yotsuzukayama Ancient Tomb (the 4th century). 

Sukumozuka Ancient Tomb (the early 5th century) has 100m in the length, one of the biggest ancient tombs in Shimane.

Komaruyama Ancient Tomb, (the late 5th century) was rebuilt in 1992 near Sesshu Memorial Museum. Sesshu Memorial Museum, Taiki-an temple and the Komaruyama Ancient Tomb are located in the Sesshu San-sui-go historical park.

Asuka period, Nara period(600~794)

the late 7th - the early 8thC
Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro, a representative poet of the oldest poem collection “Manyo-shu”, was born in Tota village in the western Masuda. His descendants had kept their family shrine which was dedicated to Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro, for a long time. But now it is open to the public.
724
Hitomaru Shrine, which was delicated to Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro, was constructed on Kamoshima island by the order of Tennou Shomu. It was the origin of Takatsu Kakinomoto Shrine.
725
Ameno-iwakatsu Shrine was established.
737
Kushishiro-kahime Shrine was established.
768
Nukatabe-no-Sodeme was praised by the Imperial Court for her relief work for the poor. There were only 18 prize recipients.

Heian period(784~1185)

836
Tsumo Copper Mine started operating.
1026
 Kamoshima island was sank due to an earthquake.
1114
Fujiwara Kunikane, the founder of Masuda family was assigned as the governor of Iwami region. The capital town of Iwami region was Kamifu( a part of present Hamada city)
1184-1185
Kanesaka and Kanetaka (the grand son and the grand-grand son of Kunikane) joined the Minamoto’s army and fought at the battle of Ichi-no-tani and the battle of Dan-no-ura. In the end, Minamoto family won the war and started to dominate over Japan

Kamakura period, Muromachi period,
Azuchi/Momoyama period (1185-1603)

1190
Kanetaka moved to Masuda area and changed his family name to Masuda.
1282
Myogiji temple was established.
1363
Sukanji temple(Ikoji temple) was established.
1368
Masuda Kanemi built their residence in Miyake area.(Miyake Odoi)
1374
Manpukuji temple was built.
1479
Masuda Kanetaka invited Sesshu Toyo who perfected Japanese ink painting. He designed gardens of Sukanji(Ikoji) temple and Manpukuji temple.
1483
Sesshu Toyo presented a picture “Kacho-zu Byobu” to Masuda Kanetaka.
1499
Sesshu Toyo left his studio “Unkoku-an” in Yamaguchi to Taiki-an(Tokouji temple) in Masuda.
1600
Because of their defeat at Sekigahara, The Masuda family and servants moved to Nagato-susa , the eastern part of Hagi City.

Edo period (1604-1867)

1604
Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, this area was divided into two fiefs by Takatsu River. East side of Takatsu River belonged to Hamada clan and the west side of the river belonged to Tsuwano clan.
1866
The second Bakucho War(Bakufu-Choshu War) occurred. There was a fierce battle in Manpukuji temple.

Modern Times (1867〜)

1868
Meiji Restoration
1902
Kaoru Iwamoto was born in Takatsu-cho, Masuda City
1952
Masuda-cho merged with adjacent villages to Masuda City.

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