Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape


State Party = JPN
Type = Cultural
Criteria = ii, iii, v
ID = 1246
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 2007
Session = 31st
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1246

The nihongo|Iwami Ginzan|石見銀山|"Iwami Ginzan" was a silver mine in the city of Ōda, Shimane Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan. [Lyman, Benjamin Smith. (1879). [http://books.google.com/books?id=RIARAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA87&dq=Iwami+Ginzan+silver+mine&client=firefox-a "Geological Survey of Japan," p. 87.] ] It was added to the World Heritage List in 2007. [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/culture/20070629TDY01004.htm "Iwami picked as World Heritage site,"] "The Yomiuri Shimbun." June 2007.]

Mine history

It was developed in 1526 by Kamiya Jutei a Japanese merchant. It reached its peak production in the early 17th century of approximately 38 tons of silver a year which was then a third of world production. UNESCO: [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1530/ "Historic Silver Mine of Iwami Ginzan."] ]

Silver from the mine was used widely for coins. It was contested fiercely by warlords until the Tokugawa Shogunate won control of it in 1600 as a result of the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. It was later secured by fences and barricaded by pine trees. Yamabuki Castle was built in the centre of the complex.

Silver production from the mine fell in the nineteenth century as it had trouble competing with mines elsewhere and it was eventually closed.

Heritage site

Parts of the mining town remain in good condition and the Japanese Government has designated it as a Special Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. The government also applied for it to become a World Heritage Site. The bid succeeded in July 2007, although an evaluation of the site by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOSMOS) produced no findings of "outstanding universal value." [UNESCO: [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/1246.pdf ICOMOS evaluation of the property] ]

Notes

References

* Lyman, Benjamin Smith. (1879). [http://books.google.com/books?id=RIARAAAAIAAJ&dq=Iwami+Ginzan+silver+mine&client=firefox-a&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0 "Geological Survey of Japan: Reports of Progress for 1878 and 1879."] Tookei: Public Works Department. [http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/13342563 OCLC: 13342563]

External links

* [http://www2.pref.shimane.jp/ginzan/e/index.html Iwami-Ginzan Silver Mine site]
* [http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/coin/international/coinset/page33.html Japan Mint, World Heritage Coin Set]