Ryōi made it possible to use boats along the length of the river, allowing for rice, wheat, firewood and charcoal from Tamba Province to be quickly and cheaply transported.
Before this time lumber, sailed downstream as rafts, was one of the few things that could make the journey.
In 1606 Ryōi started work on his most ambitious river management project...clearing the Hozu-gawa.
It had been his long-held aspiration to blast away the rocks and calm the rapids of the river, in order to speed up, make safe and monetize the route from Tanba Province.
Calming the Hozu-gawa cost a huge amount of money and man-hours, and many men lost their lives.
In 1614 the temple of Daihikaku Senkō-ji (大悲閣千光寺) was moved by Ryōi to a spot above the river at Arashiyama, in order to pray for the souls of the dead.
#大悲閣千光寺 #嵐山 #京都