抄録
(1) All over the Yamato Basin which has been known as a droughty area are built bulworks, so-called “Ukezutsumi” or Protection Bank. The studies concerning these banks are important to learn about the growth of towns and villages as well as the regional characteristics of Yamato Province. This manuscript shows the result of my field survey about them.
(2) The floods in the Yamato Basin have given damages to all the communities in the basin below the height of 100 meters above the sea-level. Flood protection warehouses and Ukezutsumi Banks are to be seen here and there all over the region, but banks are more frequently found in the low lands where rivers and streams meet together.
(3) The origin of the Banks is presumed to be ancient, but the exact date has not yet been ascertaind. They are disributed along the rivers to protect jointly in case of broken banks of stagnant water.
(4) These banks of accumulated earth are different in their size, shape, and construction acording to their surroundings, and are sharply in contrast with each other between the upper part of a river and the lower part.
(5) The banks are maintained by the strict rules set up by the communities separately or jointly. These rules are indicative of either egoistic or cooperative attitude of the villagers.
(6) After the field survey the following results were discovered:
(a) Both droughts and floods are the characteristics of the Yamato Basin where the control for river waters is insufficient.
(b) in relation to the natural surroundings, a strong community is formed, which, however, results in the stagnation of community.
(c) In order to solve many problems concerning the banks, it is necessary to have a unified and systematic plan of improving the environment all over the basin.
