Published Papers - Chen, Bixia

Simulation Analysis of a Complex Infiltration and Drainage System with Pipe Flow : A Case Study from the Makabe Region of the Main Okinawa Island, Japan

Kurima Genji, Nakama Yuei, Inoue Shoji, Konoshima Masashi, Chen Bixia

Journal of Rainwater Catchment Systems ( Japan Rainwater Catchment Systems Association )  18 ( 2 ) 17 - 27   2013 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Makabe, which is located in the southern-most part of the main Okinawa Island, is an upland agricultural area that produces sugarcane and vegetables. Geographic features in Makabe-South have created a flood-prone basin that make it one of the most flood-damaged areas in Okinawa. For example, in August 2007 a heavy rainfall event resulted in flood damage over an area of 20 ha. Several measures have been proposed to help mitigate flood damage in this region, which features a relatively complex drainage system. To evaluate and compare these proposed measures, it is important to understand the infiltration mechanisms at work in the area. We use a surface runoff model to compute rainfall outflow for our study site. To simulate the study site's complex infiltration and drainage system, we model two adjacent infiltration ponds with different infiltration capabilities. Among other factors, infiltration rates depend on overflow between these two adjacent ponds, which occurs through both a subterranean and pipe flow drainage system. The simulation results indicate that our modeling approach is useful for evaluating the flood mitigation measures proposed in this region.

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世界農業遺産(GIAHS)と中山間地域におけるグリーンツーリズムの展開ー石川県能登町を事例として

陳 碧霞, 仲間 勇栄

日本森林学会大会発表データベース ( 日本森林学会 )  124 ( 0 ) 97   2013

Type of publication: Research paper (research society, symposium materials, etc.)

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 This study discusses opportunities for green tourism combined with the GIAHS program as a way of rural revitalization. The case in study is a typical green tourism project concerning an organization of farmers in the Noto Peninsula. The study conduced in-depth interviews with farm inn owners to investigate tourism development in the depopulated rural areas of Japan, examine its challenges, and present new opportunities of attracting foreign tourists when combined with the global program of GIAHS.

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Analysis of Infiltration Drainage and Evaluation of Tunnel Effects for a Doline in a Coral Limestone Region : A Case study of Ashichaga District of Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture

Kurima Genji, Nakama Yuei, Inoue Shoji, Konoshima Masashi, Chen Bixia

Journal of Rainwater Catchment Systems ( Japan Rainwater Catchment Systems Association )  18 ( 1 ) 15 - 25   2012 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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In coral limestone regions, river systems are often primitive and water is drained through underground infiltration from a doline in watershed areas. In these areas, if the infiltration capability is lowered, for example, by trash and dirt piled up at the mouth of a doline, heavy rain often triggers flood damages. In order to mitigate flood damages in a district of Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture, a tunnel drainage was constructed. In this study, we conduct simulation analysis to examine the effect of the tunnel drainage on the degree and extent of flood damages. Our simulation model utilizes overland flow model and analysis of unsteady flow to assess rainfall outflow into the doline and applies Torricelli's theorem to model drainage capacity by explicitly considering both seepage holes and hydraulic pressure. Our simulation model can quantify the effect of tunnel drainage on flood damages and is deemed useful for a doline improvement plan intended to mitigate the damage from submergence in the areas where the infiltration capability has deteriorated.

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Distribution of Old Fukugi (Garcinia subelliptica) Trees in Traditional Cultural Landscapes in Okinawa Islands in Japan

CHEN Bixia, Nakama Yuei

海岸林学会誌 ( 日本海岸林学会 )  10 ( 2 ) 79 - 88   2011.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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A traditional Feng Shui village landscape in Okinawa features multilayered forest belts closely surrounding the habitat. Fukugi (<i>Garcinia subelliptica</i>) trees, Ryukyu pines and other native species were planted to protect the hamlet and the island from strong winds. Among these species, Fukugi distinguishes itself as being long-lived and strong against typhoons and monsoonal winds. Through surveying the distribution of huge remnant Fukugi trees in the old hamlets, this study is to explore when and how such a Feng Shui hamlet was built and the layout that is still a mystery to historians, and further probe into the cultural and historical significances of Fukugi. Through this survey of total 183 hamlets throughout Okinawa Gunto, mainland Okinawa and its nearby 16 small isolated islands, we found that about one third of all surveyed hamlets had huge trees older than 250 yrs., and these hamlets were distributed in a wide area not only on mainland Okinawa but also on the isolated islands. The estimated age of the biggest Fukugi was about 373 yrs. old. Besides, around the houses, Fukugi trees were also found to have been planted around sacred sites and the old public offices. Thus, such traditional hamlets can date back to the 17th Century, and may have been wide-spread throughout Okinawa Gunto since the early half of the 18th Century. All existent huge Fukugi trees were purposely planted. From the standing locations of Fukugi trees around the human habitat, around sacred sites, and even public office sites, it is obvious that the Fukugi tree was considered as an auspicious tree species besides being a useful and strong species.

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Agroforestry by Baduy Community in Banten province, Indonesia

Nakama　Yuei,Yogi　Taishi,Ichwandi　Iin,

No.57 (2010/12) ( 琉球大学農学部 )  ( 57 ) 17 - 30   2011.04

Type of publication: Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution)

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Agroforestry is an integrated approach of combining agriculture and forestry technologies, preserving the natural environment, producing food in a sustainable way and providing the local residents with stable food supply. It has gathered attention in the tropics recent years. This study focuses on status quo of traditional agroforestry in Baduy community, which is still little known. It further discusses the land use, vegetation composition, distribution of plants, and forest uses. There are two types of agroforestry in Baduy communty: Kebon and Huma-Jami-Reuma. In a Kebon, without slash and burn, there is an upstorey of fruit trees and woods, and a low storey of useful herbaceous plants for food, medicine and ritual. Useful plants could be continuously harvested. A Huma-Jami-Reuma is a kind of shifting cultivation after slash and burn. Huma, Jami, and Reuma refer to the different stages of shifting cultivation. During the first year of Huma, swidden rice (Oryza sativa L.) is majorly planted. One to three years after rice harvest, vegetables are usually planted when the trees are naturally regenerated. This stage is called Jami (vegetable stage). During the following 3 to 4 years, it is the stage of secondary forest, called Reuma. The fruits and wild plants are produced without maintenance during' Reuma. Thus, the land might be reused as shifting cultivation after 8 years. In Jami, there are numerous useful plants in the understorey. Thus, soil has been preserved with understorey vegetation and the dried straws of harvested rice. Vegetation in Reuma consists of Paraserianthes falcataria and fruit trees in the upstorey, banana plants, Noni in the middle storey and vegetables and wild useful plants in the understorey. Vegetation has been regenerated from the under storey to the up storey; a multilayered structure has been maintained under such a system. Traditional agroforestry in Baduy community consists of various types of land use and the cycling uses of ecosystem of the soil have been accomplished, which result in the soil preservation and the productive agricultural and forestry production. （管理者追加）リポジトリ登録情報を移行しました。確認のうえ、加除修正をしてください。

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A Feng Shui landscape and tree planting with explanation based on Feng Shui Diaries : a case study of Mainland Okinawa, Japan

陳 碧霞, 仲間 勇栄

Worldviews : Global Religion, Culture, and Ecology   Vol.15,No.2   168 - 184   2011 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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and Ichwandi I.(2010) Agroforestry by Baduy Community in Banten province, Indonesia, The Science Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, No.57.

陳 碧霞, 仲間 勇栄

琉球大学農学部学術報告   57   17 - 30   2010

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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A study on village forest landscape in small island topography in Okinawa, Japan

陳 碧霞, 仲間 勇栄

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2     139 - 148   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Nakama, Y., Purves, J.and Chen B.(2010) Tree Growing Methods : Revised Japanese and English Translations of Jumoku Hashoku Houhou (樹木播植方法), The Science Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, No.57.

仲間 勇栄, 陳 碧霞

琉球大学農学部学術報告   57   1 - 15   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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On the establishment of Feng Shui villages from the perspective of old Fukugi trees in Okinawa, Japan

陳 碧霞, 仲間 勇栄

Arboriculture & Urban Forestry   37   19 - 26   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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A Comparative Study on the Feng Shui Village Landscape and Feng Shui Trees in East Asia -A Case Study of Ryukyu and Sakishima Islands-

その他の著者

No.55 (2008/12) ( 琉球大学農学部 )  ( 55 ) 25 - 80   2009.04

Type of publication: Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution)

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Feng Shui is based on empirical observations of the surrounding landform. Majority of researches on Feng Shui in Okinawa concern the historical study, or analyze village layout from perspectives of history, folklore, and architecture. However, a comparative study of Feng Shui in Okinawa with that in mainland topography is little reported. This study aims to clarify a Ryukyu village's features, focusing on Feng Shui trees and village landscape. (1) In China, and Korea, Feng Shui trees are commonly symbolical separated patches. Some major species include Cinnamomum camphora, Ficus microphylla, and Acer buergerianm (Mainland China, and Hong Kong) and Pinus densiflora (Korea). In Okinawa, forests are functionally used to embrace the house, the village, and the coastline to contain the strong wind. Feng Shui trees include Fukugi, Calophyllum inophyllum, Pinus luchuensis, Pandanus odoratissimus, and Hibiscus tiliaceus in Okinawa. (2) A Feng Shui village landscape highlights the surrounding landform to ""contain the wind"" and ""accumulate the water"" in China and Korea. In Okinawa, village houses are encircled by multilayer forest belts of house-embracing trees, Kusatimui in the rear and Village Ho:go together to embrace the village, and coastline Ho:go. Such a layout, designed to protect the village from the winter wind and typhoons, is attributed to the environmental difference between mainland and island topographies. (3) Fukugi trees that embrace all sides of the house are not found in Korea, or China. House-embracing trees and interlaced road network are the features of a Ryukyu Feng Shui village. In Okinawa, there are always one to four houses embraced by Fukugi. (4) Distribution layout of house-embracing Fukugi was reproduced with HO CAD software. Along with houses mostly backing north and facing south, forest belts in the north, east, and along the coastline are thick in Okinawa. Such layout of Fukugi is assumed as countermeasure to winter wind and typhoons. (5) House-embracing Fukugi trees are under routine care and management to maintain Feng Shui's function. Tree number in every meter of the woodlands was 3.1 in Tonaki, and 2.7 in Bise, respectively. The estimated mean and oldest tree ages were 40 and 179 in Tonaki, and 46 and 266 in Bise. The mixture of diverse ages of trees, and proper density might be assumed as the result of proper management. (6) All village roads are not straight, but courteous in Okinawa. No intersections are perfect right angle. Fukugi tree lines are laid out along the roads which decline from the north-south or east-west axes. Such a layout has been planned to contain the wind according to Feng Shui principle of ""to contain the wind and to accumulate the water"". The curvous roads are able to channel and reduce the damage of the strong winds coming to the village. In summary, Feng Shui in Okinawa, which was adapted to the severe nature of winter wind and typhoons in summer, utilizes tree planting to achieve an ideal Feng Shui environment. Comparing with mountainous Feng Shui practice in China and Korea which highlights the landform and symbolically use Feng Shui trees, Feng Shui in Okinawa is functionally practiced, thus, an ""Island Ryukyu model of Feng Shui"" is argued in this study. （管理者追加）リポジトリ登録情報を移行しました。確認のうえ、加除修正をしてください。

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■■■

陳 碧霞, 仲間 勇栄

Research in Scientific Feng Shui and the Built Environment(City of Hong Kong University Press)     167 - 179   2009

Type of publication: Research paper (international conference proceedings)

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The Ryukyu Islands Feng Shui Village Landscape

Bixia Chen, Gengi Kurima, Yuei Nakama

Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology ( Brill )  12 ( 1 ) 25 - 50   2008 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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<jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In a typical Ryukyu "Feng Shui" village, a forest belt, known as village Ho:go, was planted to curve in the front and extend to the east and the west to embrace the village along with preserved forest on the rear hill. Lines of Fukugi trees (Garcinia subelliptica) were planted to embrace the houses. Compared to the more symbolic existence of Feng Shui trees in China and other regions in East Asia, tree planting on a large scale was used as a practical means to repair defective topography with little protection from the strict natural condition on Ryuku's flat islands. This study focuses on village layout, forest composition in the front forest belt, habitat embracing trees, and forest plantations on the back hill. Garcinia subelliptica and Calophyllum inophyllum are the predominant species in the upper storey in the forest belt. A large number of species are also found in the under storey vegetation in the preserved forest. Thus, a Ryukyu Feng Shui village landscape, which embodies a symbiosis of the nature and human intervention, provides an ideal village landscape pattern in the Ryukyu Islands.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

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A Study on Village Landscape and the Layout of Habitat - embracing Fukugi Trees in Okinawa （II）

Chen Bixia, Nakama Yuei, Kurima Genji

海岸林学会誌 ( 日本海岸林学会 )  6 ( 1 ) 13 - 19   2006.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Bise village is a planned, traditional village, which was established in the light of Feng Shui during the Ryukyu Kingdom Period. The village landscape features reticular veins of village roads with houses encircled by Fukugi trees. We chose to survey in Bise village in order to clarify the present structure of the habitat - embracing Fukugi trees in the Feng Shui village. The village consists of squares of different size embraced by Fukugi trees. In general, there were one to four parts inside the squares whose borders were delineated by Fukugi tree lines. Four types of residence units, Types 1 to 4 were categorized to refer to the residence unit s of 1 to 4 parts. Types 1, 2 and 3 were the most common cases, and Type 4 was the rarest cases. DBHs of all Fukugi trees surveyed ranged from 1 cm to 66.5 cm. The trees were estimated to range from 2 or 3 to 266 years old. The height of Fukugi trees which were taller than 1 m was very diverse. We also found a lot of seedlings and quite a few stumps in the Fukugi tree lines Thus, it might be assumed that the diversity of the sizes of Fukugi trees resulted from thinning of some mature trees and from some seedlings being kept during the hundreds of years since the village was established. From the size of the Fukugi trees, we could assume that the village was first settled in the center and then was extended to the coastal area with the increase of the population

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A Study on a Feng Shui Village and Layout of Habitat Embracing trees in Okinawa (Ⅰ)

Chen Bixia, nakama Yuei, Kurita Genji

海岸林学会誌 ( 日本海岸林学会 )  5 ( 1 ) 7 - 12   2005.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Circled with <i>Garcinia subelliptica</i> habitat embracing trees on the property, houses in Tonaki Island are mostly south facing, which forms an ideal feng shui village structure. We observe that forest belts in the northern and eastern borderlines are much thicker than those inside the village, which is greatly attributed to the strong cold northern wind in winter and the destructive eastern wind during typhoon season. Stand trees of well-kept houses are arranged in a two storied structure, while trees around 2 m in abandoned residences are an overwhelming majority. Tree density in well-kept houses is higher than that in abandoned houses. Seedling ratio for abandoned houses is bigger than that of well-kept houses, while it is opposite for sprout ratio. It is assumed that well-kept habitat embracing woodlands have been cleaned from time to time to weed out fallen ripe fruits and unwanted seedlings, while trees in the abandoned houses have not been maintained for a long time and forests have returned to a nearly natural situation

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