ブックタイトル「近代の文化遺産の保存理念と修復理念」英語版

概要

「近代の文化遺産の保存理念と修復理念」英語版

64This side was installed with fittings in 1896 andturned into a room for selecting cocoons. Inthe Showa era, the walls were boarded from theinside with plywood to prevent draft and whenthis was removed, glazed fittings from the Meijiera were discovered. As seen in Photo 8, thearea above windows was entirely covered withpaper, which was in fact documents from theMeiji era. Because this wall was made of onlyone layer of wood boarding, it is not difficultto imagine how they attempted to prevent coldair from entering, in any way possible, evenjust by applying paper. This also indicates oneof the industrial activities that went on here,where they came up with ideas to improvetheir workplace. As a historian, I am temptedto remove these documents to read them, tobe preserved appropriately; although at thesame time, I am beginning to think that thereis more value in the information provided byhaving the paper intact on the walls to showhow the place was used, rather than what maybe acquired by deciphering the documents. Thismay be an example of the conflict betweendocument preservation for history studies andheritage preservation from the viewpoint ofhistory of industrial technology.6. Understanding Heritage PropertiesRelated of Living HistoryAt Tomioka Silk Mill, aside from the numerousfactory buildings, there remain dormitories,workers’ housing, infirmary, as well asclassrooms of the in-house school. In Japan,facilities related to workers’ daily lives are notduly respected to be included as objects forpreservation at industrial sites. There seemsto be a misconception that, because historicalstudies in industrial technology deal withtechnology, only production facilities need tobe saved. However, these industries would nothave been possible without people. Provisionof workers’ housing enabled managers andengineers from outside the locality to workhere. Education, medical facilities, andentertainment would attract excellent workersand also increase their morale. They can beconsidered as important industrial technologies,and these conditions have changed historicallyas well. Traces of the workers’ daily lives are,too, significant components in the history ofindustrial technology.　In Japan, history studies generally placegreater weight on political history ratherthan life studies, as compared to the Westerncountries. This results in life-related factorsnot given sufficient attention among Japan’sindustrial heritage properties as with othercountries. Even without going so far as to setstandards according to conditions in Westerncountries, complaints from visitors to TomiokaSilk Mill have been heard on how the workers’lives are not well represented there. Recently,improvements have been made to allow visitorsto view the interior of the infirmary anddormitories. However, all that can be seen areempty buildings and reproduction of past livingconditions remains a future issue.　At the Director's House which was used forrecreation and classrooms, there are householdaltars for both Shinto and Buddhism.Regarding religious facilities, when factories ormines establish an independent shrine and holdceremonies, it is fairly easy to acknowledgetheir presence. However, what the roles ofthese small altars were in the daily lives of thefactory girls who dwelled and worked togetheris difficult to understand. The moral educationthey were given at the factory and the