An Approach toward River Management Procedures from the Perspective of Fudo

Abstract

How can we integrate the notion of fudo into river management procedures? To answer this question, I explore the meanings of the term fudo in the Japanese tradition, and interpret river management systems on the basis of this notion. There are two major works associated with fudo: the ancient text titled Fudoki and Fudo by Watsuji Tetsuro. These works tell us that fudo does not correspond to a static image of the landscape but instead signifies a dynamic moment that involves interplay between various factors (including humans, nonhuman beings, and natural systems) and leads to the development of unique local conditions. It is important to note that fudo cannot be understood on the basis of the dichotomy between subject and object. The term ”trajectivity,” which I borrow from Augustin Berque, lends a necessary perspective to understanding this notion. I myself interpret fudo in light of the spatiality and temporality of human existence. People dwell in a certain space that possesses unique geographical and climatic conditions. They live there and interact with each other and their environs, and develop local history. Both the geographical conditions and history need to be taken into account in order to recognize the depth of the value of a certain fudo.

In 2006, the Ministry of Land and Transportation promulgated the policy for the biodiversity reconstruction of rivers. This policy is supplemented by the guideline for river landscapes, which was published almost simultaneously. These two official documents herald the arrival of a new trend in Japanese river management policies. What is significant about this new trend is that it requires us to pay careful attention not only to the qualities of ecosystems and landscapes but also to the local lifestyles and culture that have developed in each region. In other words, fudo began to be considered to be an essential element in the process of restoring and managing rivers. The concept of flood control, for example, will be reinterpreted if we incorporate the notion of fudo. Today, flood control mainly focuses on the protection of human life and private property. The quality of ecological conditions and landscapes has not been sufficiently considered in the process of designing flood control procedures. Further, the value of local culture and history has not been taken into account. The notion of fudo teaches us the indispensability of recognizing the ecological, environmental, cultural, and historical values of a place. These values need to be examined in order to determine the type of construction or reconstruction projects that are promoted. The establishment of a new policy for river management is a significant step toward the development of a system of multiperspectival infrastructure management that incorporates the concept of fudo.