Sino-Japanese War Victory Monument
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34°22′23.60″N 132°27′50.23″E / 34.3732222°N 132.4639528°E
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| Pre-war postcard collection from the Hiroshima Prefectural Archives | |
 Hiroshima Ujina Triumphal Monument |
The Peace Tower (Japanese: 平和塔, romanized: Heiwatō), also known as the Eagle Monument (Japanese: 鷹の記念碑, romanized: Taka no Kinenhi)[a], originally called the Sino-Japanese War Triumphal Monument (Japanese: 日清戦争凱旋碑, romanized: Nisshin Sensō Gaisenhi), is a monument located in Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan. It commemorates Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War.
Overview
editThe monument was completed in 1896 (Meiji 29). It stands 16 meters tall and originally featured a metal sculpture of a black kite (Japanese: トビ, romanized: Tobi), symbolizing a kinshi[b]. The monument’s sides were framed with cement and inscribed with the characters for "Peace Tower."
The main road, Ujina Road (now National Route 487), runs through Minami-ku and Ujina, intersecting the Hiroshima Electric Railway Ujina Line. It extends along the west side of Ujina Miyuki Road (Municipal Road Minami 4 Ward 557 Line), entering Minami Green Space. The Peace Tower is located to the east of Minami West Community Center, next to the Minami Police Station Minami Koban and the Minami Fire Brigade Minami Detachment vehicle depot[c]. The old stone signpost at the fork in the road is inscribed with "Higashimatsubara Station Road"[3].
History
editMiyuki Road was constructed in 1885 (Meiji 18) when Emperor Meiji visited Hiroshima. It connected Hiroshima to Ujina Port (now Hiroshima Port), and the Miyuki Bridge was named after it[4]. At that time, this road was the main thoroughfare to Ujina. Its southern end was marked by the Miyuki Pine.
In 1888 (Meiji 21), the 5th Division was established in Hiroshima. When the First Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1894 (Meiji 27), the 5th Division, alongside the 3rd Division, became the vanguard of the 1st Army[5]. Ujina Port served as a logistics base, with many soldiers passing through Miyuki Road en route to the battlefield.
Following Japan's victory in 1895 (Meiji 28), various commemorative structures, such as monuments, triumphal arches, and memorials, were erected nationwide[5]. In Hiroshima, a temporary triumphal arch was built on Miyuki Road[3], and a cannon-shaped monument, approximately 20 meters tall, was constructed at the corner of the Western Drill Ground (now the area from Hiroshima Castle south to Hiroshima Prefectural Office)[5]. The triumphal monument was also funded by donations from five prefectures in the Chūgoku region[6].
The "Sino-Japanese War Triumphal Monument" was completed in 1896 (Meiji 29) with donations from the military, government, and civilians[7]. The construction cost was 4,988 yen and 72 sen[6]. This site was chosen because it was a junction of northwest and north-facing roads – Miyuki Road to the left crossed Miyuki Bridge and led to the city center, where the Hiroshima General Headquarters and 5th Division Command were located. Continuing straight north from Miyuki Road led to Hiroshima Station, then the western terminus of the railway network[3].
During the Pacific War, the metal portions of public facilities in the city were gradually removed following the "Metal Collection Order," but the metal atop the monument remained.
In 1945 (Showa 20), the atomic bombing of Hiroshima occurred. The monument, about 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter, was not destroyed. However, the monument at the Western Drill Ground was completely destroyed[5].
In 1947 (Showa 22), fearing reprimand from the Allied Occupation forces, the inscription "Triumphal Monument" was covered with cement, and the words "Peace Tower" were engraved instead[8].
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Map of Hiroshima around 1930 (Showa 5). The Ujina Miyuki Road and Miyuki Bridge can be seen at the bottom right. The triangular area formed by the two roads extending east from the Miyuki Bridge is where the monument was built. -
Miyuki Bridge in 1974 (Showa 49). The Minami Green Space is visible at the bottom right.
Transportation
edit- Hiroden Ujina Line
- Get off at Minami-machi 6-chome Station and walk for about 3 minutes.
- Get off at Hirodai Fuzokugakko Mae Station and walk for about 3 minutes.
Footnotes
edit- ^ 【平和塔】（鷹の記念碑）. こむねっとひろしま. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
- ^ Referring to the "kinshi" of the Order of the Golden Kite[1].
- ^ The vehicle depot of the Hiroshima City Minami Fire Brigade Minami Detachment is on the first floor of the community center[2].
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Hiroshima Architecture arch-hiroshima 2006, 「#3：全然平和の使者っぽくない。（戦時中の金属供出を免れ、往事の姿を保つ）」.
- ^ 別表 (第2条関係). 広島市消防団の組織に関する規則・規則第58号. Hiroshima City. 1955-11-10. Archived from the original on 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- ^ a b c Hiroshima Architecture arch-hiroshima 2006, 「#4：「東松原停車場通」とある。」.
- ^ Hiroshima Architecture arch-hiroshima 2006, 「#2：平和塔の文字が読める。」.
- ^ a b c d Nishio 2006, pp. 71–88.
- ^ a b Kindaindl 1899.
- ^ Hiroshima Prefectural Archives, 「広島の歴史的風景」.
- ^ Hiroshima Prefecture, 「広嶋臨戦地日誌」.
Sources
edit- Taro Susukida (1973). "Ujina Town and Surroundings". In Junichiro Susukida (ed.). Gansu Yokocho Volume 3. Hiroshima: Takumi Publishing. pp. 103–117. doi:10.11501/9572792. NCID BA47641829.
- Rintaro Nishio (2006). "Expression and Records of the Sino-Japanese War in Monuments, Toys, and Prints: In Search of New Teaching Materials and Resources" (PDF). Graduate School of Contemporary Social Studies Research Report. 1. Aichi Shukutoku University. ISSN 1881-0373. NAID 120005038053. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
- "Peace Tower / Former Sino-Japanese War Triumphal Monument". Hiroshima Architecture arch-hiroshima. 2006-05-07. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- "The Sino-Japanese War Victory Monument: A Symbol of Resilience and Triumph". Monument Tracker. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- "20. Sino-Japanese War Triumphal Monument". Hiroshima Past and Present Exploration Society. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- Shigeichi Fujii (1925-09-15). "Naka-ku, Otemachi and More from "Hiroshima Family Accompaniment"". Hiroshima Pre-War Scenes. China Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2021-04-03.