NAVIGATE
ZONE 1 : Invitation to Sayamaike Pond
You can see the huge earthen wall of sliced bank of Sayamaike Pond. It's real!
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Layers of the North Bank
ZONE 2 : Birth of Sayamaike Pond
Dendrochronological survey of the unearthed wooden pipes proved that the pond had been completed in the early 7th century A.D. We also found the pipes of earliest Edo Era set right beneath the older ones.
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The pipes set in early 7th century A.D.
ZONE 3 : Reclamation of waste land in Nara Period
Gyoki, a well-known priest in Nara Period and is still popular among people, restored Sayamaike Pond in the first half of the 8th century. About 30 years later after his restoration, Early State remade the pond as twice as high and wide.
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Wooden figure of Gyoki (replica)
ZONE 4 : Reclamation in Middle Ages
In the beginning of the 13th century, Chogen, a monk who had devoted himself to restore burnt Todaiji Temple, set stone pipes made of stone sarcophagus of Kofun Period. (3rd - 7th century A.D.)
Here we show you a stone monument Chogen has laid near the pipes.
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Wooden figure of Chogen(replica)
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Stone monument Chogen had laid
ZONE 5 : Reclamation in Edo Era
In the beginning of the 17th century, Hideyori Toyotomi, a son of late ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi, ordered his retainer Katsumoto Katagiri to restore Sayamaike Pond. You can see the remains of the huge structure for water supply and frameworks preventing landslide as it was when unearthed.
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Structure made in Edo Era with the Tower made in Showa Era
ZONE 6 : Restoration Works in Meiji and Taisho-Showa Era
From Meiji Era, not only the farmers have carried out the restoration works of the pond but the governments, both national and prefectural, have taken part in.
At this corner, behind the structure made in Edo Era stands the tower for water supply built in Taisho-Showa Era.
ZONE 7 : Restoration Work in Heisei Era
Owing to the restoration work in Heisei Era, the Sayamaike Pond was remade as a water-control dam rather than a pond for cultivation.
We introduce you the outline of its engineering work and functions.
ZONE 8 : Doboku-Land; A glance at engineering works related to water-controlRestoration Work in Heisei Era
You can see some of the famous engineering heritages related to water-control on the videos. We hope you feel familiar with the civil engineering works through this corner.
INFORMATION CORNER; Masao Suenaga and Sayamaike Pond
We introduce you with late Dr. Masao Suenaga, who were born in this city and grown up to be a famous archaeologist. He recognized the historical importance of Sayamaike Pond and put his heart into the research about it.
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Dr. Masao Suenaga
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