The Significance of Religious Factors in the Formation of Settlement Characteristics

Abstract

The landscapes of two settlements on the eastern shore of Lake Kasumigaura, Funazu and Tega-Shinden, are markedly different. Funazu is an agglomerated settlement surrounded by paddy fields, whereas Tega-Shinden is a scattered settlement with many ponds for carp-farming as well as paddy fields. Among other things, the difference in religious landscapes is notable. Funazu has facilities and stone momuments pertaining to folk religions, whereas Tega-Shinden has a large Buddhist temple. These differences are probably related to the differences in the Buddhist sect to which each group ascribes. People in Funazu are the followers of Tendaishu (or the Tendai Sect), whereas people in Tega-Shinden are Jodo-Shinshu (or the Jodo-Shin Sect) Buddhists. This study attempts to clarify the characteristics of the two settlements represented by their landscapes and discuss how these differences are related to the denominational difference.The procedure is as follows: First, the origins of the settlements and the changes in house distribution are traced in order to ascertain the background the agglomerated and scattered landscapes (Part 2). Secondly, demographic characteristics are discussed in order to understand the people who have created the landscape (Part 3). Thirdly, the characteristics of economic activities, according to occupational structure and the management of agriculture and fishing will be addressed (Part 4). Fourthly, social organization is described, as it has had a direct influence on the religious landscape (Part 5). Finally, by using the previous findings, an analysis of the data will demonstrate how the characteristics of the settlements reflect the religious factors involved in their formation (Part 6). As a result, the differences in the physical and social characteristics of Funazu and Tega-Shinden, as well as the religious influences on the two settlements, will be evident.Funazu originated in the 17th century, or earlier, and has traditionally had an agglomerated landscape. As the number of households had already reached fifty in the late 17th century, the rate of increase after that was slow. People were relatively conservative in their economic activities and had long maintained an agriculturally-oriented occupational pattern. By the 1960s people began to take on outside jobs other then than agriculture. Nevertheless, the agricultural management centered upon rice production has basically not changed. The Tendaishu temple is not so important to these people because they have some folk-belief organizations which have meetings fairly often. However, their members are limited to housewives or middle-aged men. Thus, these characteristics are influenced by folk beliefs as well as Tendaishu. This is partly due to the fact that Tendaishu incorporates characteristics of folk belief to some extent. Such religious influences in Funazu are fairly weak.The ancestors of the people in Tega-Shinden came from Tonami in Etchu (Toyama Prefecture) at the beginning of the 19th century. It is thought that the scattered landscape in Tega-Shinden was transplanted from Tonami which is famous for its scattered landscape. The people tended to marry young and to have many children. As a result, the population increased rapidly, due in part to their Jodo-Shinshu religion which severly prohibited infanticide. People in Tega-Shinden have worked hard and introduced many new practices and techniques. They have expanded their management of agriculture, fishing, and independent business. There are many reasons for this. Their ancestors had no alternative but to work hard to reclaim wasteland, and many branch families had to find new jobs for their livelihood. Among other things, their hard-working spirit may have been influenced by Jodo-Shinshu's intrinsic charactristics as pointed out by K. Naito, a religious sociologist.