【東海地域はなぜ天下人を生んだのか 名古屋城探訪-2】

　写真は名古屋城の展示で、やはりこの人物がいなければと言える信長さんの肖像画。この城郭、名古屋城自体はその後の尾張徳川家の本拠地として、天下普請で建築されたものなので、尾張織田家とは無関係ではあるけれど、戦国末期に全国統一事業を主体的に推進した中部・東海勢力の首魁としてはやはりこの人物が基盤になっている。
　日本国家の中枢機能は畿内地域が担ってきたけれど、鎌倉幕府の成立など関東に武権が成立したように東西という構図が日本列島全体の権力争奪では根付いていった。さらには、古代における関ヶ原合戦ともいえる「壬申の乱」では、中部地域から東の勢力を統合した天武系が勝利を収めたのに、この地域の勢力の合力が大きかったとされている。東西の中間地域として、この地域は全国の政治情勢の帰趨を決する地域であり続けたといえる。
　そういった最重要地域であり続けたことが、戦国期の日本にとってのヘゲモニーを持たせたということなのだろうか。下の絵柄は展示されていた名古屋城下のにぎわいぶり。伝統的な日本絵画、洛中洛外図と同様のアングルで市井の様子が絵巻物として残されている。信長は、若年期、街のにぎわいのなかをうろつく半グレのような行状を見せていたというエピソードが語られるけれど、京都での政治軍事支配を掌握した後、同時に全国最大の商業中心地域・堺の支配権もすぐさま掌握している。堺の街の醸し出す重商主義気質が、伊勢湾岸の商業中心地育ちの信長のメンタルを刺激したのかも。
　やはり重商主義的な地域性が成長期にも色濃く性格形成に与っていたのだろう。
　さて一方で、北海道はこの地域との関係性が薄いのではないだろうか。明治以前までの北海道はひたすら「北前交易」によって畿内地域や北陸、環日本海地域との関係性が深かった。また、明治維新以降は政権中央の東京から、近代国家国防の最前線地域として最重視されて旺盛に「開拓事業」が推進されていったことで、北海道の隣県は東京というような感覚にまで至っている。
　そういうなかでは、中部東海地域というのは関係性のきっかけが見い出しにくい。明治期以降、東西という日本国内の基本的な地域間権力構図が様変わりして、政治面では東京一極集中が極限まで進んだことがこういう認識の背景になっているようにも思える。
　たぶんこれからの時代にはトヨタの中枢がこの地域を基盤としているということが、大きな要素になっていくようにも思える。北海道とこの地域、さてどんな未来形があるだろうか。興味深い。


English version⬇

Why did the Tokai region give birth to the Tengokujin? Nagoya Castle Exploration-2
The Chubu-Tokai region became decisive in the political and economic situation at the end of the Warring States period. Was this due to the heavy mercantilist climate? What is the future of regional relations with Hokkaido? ...

　The photo shows a portrait of Nobunaga at the Nagoya Castle exhibit, which, after all, would not have been possible without this man. This castle, Nagoya Castle itself, was built as the base of the Owari Tokugawa family, and was built under a contract with the Tenka Fuchin, so it has nothing to do with the Owari Oda family, but it is based on this man as the leader of the Chubu and Tokai forces that proactively promoted a nationwide unification project at the end of the Warring States period.
　The central functions of the Japanese state had been carried out in the Kinai region, but as the Kamakura Shogunate was established and military power was established in the Kanto region, the East-West structure took root in the struggle for power throughout the Japanese archipelago. Furthermore, in the Jinshin Rebellion, which could be called the Sekigahara Battle in ancient times, the Temmu lineage, which united forces from the central region to the east, emerged victorious, but the combined power of the forces in this region is said to have been significant. As the middle region between the east and west, this region continued to be the region that determined the political situation of the whole country.
　The fact that it remained the most important region in Japan during the Warring States period may have given it hegemony over the country. The picture below shows the bustling Nagoya Castle area where the exhibition was held. The picture scroll depicts the city life from the same angle as the traditional Japanese painting, Rakuchu Rakugai-zu. Nobunaga is said to have behaved like a half-wit wandering around the bustling streets in his youth, but after seizing political and military control of Kyoto, he quickly seized control of Sakai, the largest commercial center in the country. Perhaps the mercantilist spirit that Sakai exuded stimulated the mentality of Nobunaga, who grew up in the commercial center on the Ise Bay coast.
　It is likely that the mercantilist character of the region contributed strongly to the formation of Nobunaga's personality even during his period of growth.
　On the other hand, Hokkaido may not have had much to do with this region. Before the Meiji Restoration, Hokkaido had deep relations with the Kinai region, Hokuriku region, and the Japan Sea Rim region through “trade in front of the north. After the Meiji Restoration, Tokyo, the center of government, placed the highest priority on Hokkaido as a frontline region for national defense in the modern era, and vigorous “development projects” were promoted, leading to the perception that Hokkaido's neighboring prefectures are Tokyo.
　In this context, it is difficult to find any opportunity for a relationship between the Chubu-Tokai region and the rest of Japan. The basic power structure between the East and West regions of Japan has changed since the Meiji Era, and the extreme concentration of power in Tokyo in terms of politics seems to be the reason behind this perception.
　The fact that Toyota's hub is based in this region will probably become a major factor in the future. What kind of future shape will Hokkaido and this region take? It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Hokkaido and this region.