The accumulation of scholarly findings on the location of Tatsuta, an ‘Utamakura,’ in early modern times in relation to local preservation activities

This study discusses the accumulation of scholarly findings on the authenticity of the location of Tatsuta, an ‘Utamakura,’ in early modern times in relation to local preservation activities. Tatsuta is a famous sight associated with maple , but its location had become unknown by the early modern period.The accumulation of scholarly findings was primarily accumulated through debates among ‘Kokugaku’ scholars. While various locations in the Kinki region were proposed as the site of Tatsuta, the debate converged on two locations: Ikaruga town and Sango town with Sango town ultimately becoming the established view. This led to regional preservation activities in the modern age. These debates initially unfolded within discussions on ‘Waka’ annotation, but later progressed while being influenced by preservation activities in Ikaruga town and Sango town. The final two debaters who established the accepted theory each had connections to the Ikaruga town or Sango town.This study demonstrates that, in the context of ‘Utamakura,’ scholarly findings concerning the authenticity of locations are not neutral; they are inseparable from local preservation activities.When evaluating and preserving ‘Utamakura,’ it is crucial to assess not only authenticity but also the activities of the local communities.