To Shirakawa-go

To Shirakawa-go

　During the early modern period, when gassho style houses began to be built, Shirakawa-go was a territory under the direct control of the Edo shogunate. Located at the southwestern edge of Hida Province in the early modern era, it functioned as a border village adjacent to Gokayama, which belonged to the neighboring Kaga Domain, and was therefore an active hub for the circulation of goods. Centered on the cultural sphere of the Sho River basin, Shirakawa-go absorbed influences from both Hida and Etchu, giving rise to a distinctive local culture. The most striking manifestation of this is the gassho style architectural tradition. In addition, a variety of customs and practices developed as people adapted to life in one of the harshest natural environments, at the foot of the sacred Mt. Hakusan. Among these, the “large family” system once seen in both the southern and northern parts of Shirakawa Village is particularly notable. Even today, Shirakawa-go—where the spirit of mountain life still resonates—continues to preserve its form through the bonds among its people, exemplified by yui roof thatching.