Sulfur and the Shimazu Clan (1)

     Shunkan (1143-1179), a priest, conspired a rebel against the Taira Clan, and was exiled to Kikai-ga-shima Island in 1177.  In the Tale of Heike, or the Tale of the Taira Clan, he described the island, “No crops are raised in this island.  Those who are mature enough climb up the mountain, pick up sulfur, see traders from Kyushu, and exchange sulfur with food.”

     Sulfur was not mined, but picked up.  Kikai-ga-shima is presumed to be Io-jima Island, literally Sulfur Island.  The island used to be the main sulfur production area for the Shimazu Clan even through the Edo Period.  The island is located 110 kilometers south of Satsuma Peninsula, and has an area of 11.74 square kilometers with the population of 128 today.  Mt. Io-dake (703 meters), literally Sulfur Peak, is the highest mountain there, and it is still an active volcano.

     Then, what was sulfur used for in Ancient Japan?  Although we don’t have written records at that time, we can make a guess through Medieval documents.

     Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto has preserved various historical records.  One of them reads that Shinju-an Temple, one of the branch temples of Daitoku-ji Temple, purchased lighting strings and sulfur each with 10 coins in 1493.  Nyoi-an Temple had a black lacquered box of sulfur in 1509.  Choro-ji Temple in Settsu Province newly bought a box of sulfur and lighting strings in 1528.  Those records indicate that sulfur used to be used as firelighters as it was in the Edo Period.