英単語(1/25)

リンク: NHK WORLD English.

Lighting of thatched-roof houses in Shirakawa

An annual winter lighting event in a village of traditional thatched-roof houses, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, has begun.

40 thatched-roof houses in Shirakawa village were lit up on Saturday, including a property designated as an important national cultural asset.

More than 4,500 tourists showed up on Saturday to see the fantastic view of snow-covered houses lit up at night.

A man from Osaka said he was very impressed by the lighting of the old houses.

This year, 6 more lighting events are scheduled to be held by the end of next month.

2009/01/25 11:53

thatched-roof：茅葺き屋根の

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『白川郷・五箇山の合掌造り集落』はUNESCOの世界文化遺産に登録されてるんですが、いったいなんなのかと。

場所は富山県南砺市の五箇山、岐阜県大野郡白川村の白川郷。

これらの地方は豪雪地帯にあたる為、江戸時代は冬の間、養蚕が収入源だったそうな。そのために合掌造りにして床面積を増加させるとともに、急斜面な屋根で雪下ろしの苦労を軽減しようとしたのが始まりらしい。

合掌造りの家は皆屋根が東西に向いていて、これは南北から吹く風を受け流すため、日当たりを良くするためとか言われてるそうな。