History of Hakata, Fukuoka

1)Nature

Fukuoka is a city with an area of about 338 square kilometers. To the north Fukuoka faces the Sea of Genkai. The weather is warm and its temperature is about 17C the yearly mean.

2)History

Fukuoka City is the nearest place to China and Korea in Japan, and it has been related to the Eurasian Continent. The rice feild crop was started here in the 14th century B.C. A gold seal was discovered in Shikanosima. It shows us the exchanges with the Eurasian Continent in the 1st century. From the 7th to the 11th century, Kourokan was a strong point for exchanging. In the 16th century, some wealthy merchants crossed over to their profits. It became Fukuoka City at the enforcement of municipal government in 1889. Fukuoka City held Asian-Pacific Exposition as the 100th anniversary of municipal government in 1989.

Introduction of Hakata Area
1)Geographical Positi

Hakata Area

Hakata Bay extends from the Itosima Peninsula to Umi-no-nakamichi. It looks like the 2 arms spread to Asia. Hakata is surrounded by the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan. And Hakata was the nearest town to the Eurasian Continent, so it played an important cultural part as the gate to the Continent of China and the Korean Peninsula.

The origin of Hakata is unknown, but it's said that it means the wide land, the large sea area, many people and a lot of products. When the city enforced municipal government in 1889, they discussed the name Fukuoka City or Hakata City in the assembly. And then, it became Fukuoka City by a narrow margin. After that, the station of the national railway was named Hakata Station. By the way, Fukuoka Station is the Nisinihon railway station in Tenjin, and it's different from Hakata Station.

There is Hakata Ward on the map now. It extends from the Naka River through the Mikasa River to Chiyo area, and to Zasshonokuma southward.

The decrease of children caused the unity of Ohama, Gokusho, Naraya and Reizen elementary schools to Hakata elementary school. These 4 areas are called Hakata area.

13th century

International City Hakata; tea, bun, wheat noodles and buckwheat noodles were first introduced into Japan.

Fukuoka is called "The Most Active City" in Japan in recent years. ACROS Fukuoka and Fukuoka Mitsukosi opened in Tenjin area. Fukuoka Dome and Sea Hawk were developed in Momochihama. Canal City Hakata and Hakata Theater opened in Hakata area. Against all, it has a long history.

In the Itazuke ruins, the remains of a paddy were excavated with Jomon ware under the remains of a paddy of the Yayoi period. It proves that the rice farming had been already introduced from the Eurasian Continent in the Yayoi period. The remains of Kourokan were excavated at the Heiwadai Stadium. It was used as the guest house for VIPs from abroad or the lodging house for the Japanese envoy to Tang Dynasty China and the Sui Dynasty China. It tells us that the trades were prosperous here Hakata from the Nara and Heian period. Furthermore, the nongovernmental trades were started in the mid-12th century. A lot of foreigners came here and made their towns called Daitougai. In the Kamakura period, the Hakata merchants not only admitted the ships from abroad but also went abroad to trade and came back with absoring the various cultures. The Buddhist priests went to China to learn Zen and brought back these cultures to Hakata.

Eisai introduced "tea" to Hakata. He built the first Zen temple "Syoufuku-ji" in Japan in 1195. It is said that there was a large tea plantation in Syoufuku-ji. The Sung traders drank tea regularly. People became to have it as a medicine gradually. Some Chinese teacups were excavated at the ruins. About "bun", Shouichi monk showed how to make it to the teahouse when he'd come back from Sung in 1241. He founded Joutenji. Wheat noodles and buckwheat noodles were showed there, too. There is a monument of their original place in Joutenji.

Hakata Port was the only port opened to the Eurasian Continent. so that a lot of religions and cultures originated there.

Hideyosi Toyotomi's urban planning called Taikoumachiwari

In the Age of Civil Wars in Japan, Hakata became a ruined town because of the repeated wars that the feudal lords called Daimyo had. Hideyosi Toyotomi planned to invade Korea and made the town recovered. For better development, he enforced Taikoumachiwari. He didn't approve that the warriors lived in Hakata, but he approved the free trade and protected the townspeople's autonomy. This corporate town's spirit still lives here even today!

Chronology of Hakata or Fukuoka

B.C. 4		Introduction of rice farming (Itazuke site)
A.D. 57		Gold Seal inscribed "the King of Na of Wa of the Man Dynasty"was presented to the ruler of Na by the Han Emperor Guang Wu.
1161		Kiyomasa Taira built the Port of Sode for trade with China (Sung Dynasty).
1195		Eisai founded the first Zen temple, Shofukuji, in Hakata.
1274		Mongolian Invasion (the battle of Bun'ei)
1276		Fortifications against Mongolian invasion built
1281		Mongolian Invasion (the battle of Koan)
1600		Nagamasa Kuroda became feudal lord, and built Fukuoka Castle the following year.
1898		The city was reorganized as a municipality.
1899		The Port of Hakata opened for foreign trade.
1972		Designated as an ordinance city
1975		Population exceeded one million.
1989		Asian-Pacific Exposition '89 (Yokatopia) held
1995		Universiade '95 Fukuoka held
1997		The Annual Meeting of ADB held