Structure of Irrigation-Drainage Ways and Settlement-Process of Colonizers of Shi-unji Shinden in Niigata Prefecture

Abstract

I. Shindens drained lakes and marshes were almost colonized in the early and middle stage of Edo Era. In the early stage, few marshy lands of lakes were drained by Kantoryu, rudimentery enbankment works. In the middle stage, many lakes and marshy lands which connected with the big rivers by the branch streams were changed into the new paddy fields by Kishuryu, the epoch-making embankment works. Shiunji Shinden was drained, which was remained as the reservoir of water by Kantoryu, when the river Kazi rose.
2. The irrigation-drainage ways of Shiunji Shinden, as same as the other lake-drained Shinden consisted of the three parts:
1) Mawashibori-arounded Shinden, drained the unnecessary water from the old paddy field.
2) Naka-akusuiro-drained the unnecessary water of Shinden itself.
3) Otoshibori-drained the unnecessary water from Mawashibori and Nakaakusuiro to the out of Shinden. Moreover lake-drained Shindenn by Kishuryu was added the three part:
1) Shimekeri-dammed the branch stream connected with the main stream.