Vegetation of the Mountainous Area around Kyoto in the Bunka Era through a Study of Karahuichirangu

Abstract

Old pictures are sometimes used as references to tell the past vegetation. But it is not easy to show the accuracy of the depictions in most cases.
Comparative and analytical studies were done to show the vegetation in the Bunka era (1804-1818 A. D.) mainly through“Karakuichiranzu”, a colourful view picture of Kyoto published in 1808.
The results suggest that the vegetation of the mountainous area around Kyoto in the early Bunka era was largely different from today: low vegetation was so common on the area that there were wide areas with no or few forests, and forests were generally small there.