Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Lore & Background

The mine was discovered and developed in 1526 by Kamiya Jutei, a Japanese merchant. Jutei later introduced a Korean style of silver mining that became the Haifukiho Method. The mine reached its peak production in the early 1600s, producing about 38 tons of silver annually, while Japan produced about 200 tons per year—one third of the world's production at that time. Silver from the mine was used widely for coins in Japan and was contested by warlords until the Tokugawa Shogunate won control in 1600 after the Battle of Sekigahara. The mine was later secured by fences and barricaded by pine trees, and Yamabuki Castle was built in the center of the mining complex.

Reader's Guide

The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine played a pivotal role in East Asian trade, where silver was a key currency. In Europe and China, it was known as the largest silver mine comparable to the Spanish colonial Cerro Rico mine of Potosí. The silver mined was of very high quality, sold as 'Soma Silver,' and given the highest trading credit in East Asia. From the 17th century, silver coins from the mine were used as currency within Japan and for trade with China, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The mine's prosperity was indicated on period maps as the 'Silver Mine Kingdom.' The site's World Heritage designation in 2007 was partly due to sustainable logging practices that resulted in less deforestation and erosion. The World Heritage Site includes around six hundred pits and mine shafts, processing and residential sites, three historic castles, three service ports, and connecting transportation routes. The bid was initially deferred by ICOMOS, which found no 'outstanding universal value' but called it a strong candidate for future inscription.

Did You Know?

• The mine was discovered in 1526 by merchant Kamiya Jutei, who introduced a Korean-style mining method called the Haifukiho Method.
• At its peak in the early 1600s, the mine produced about 38 tons of silver per year, while Japan produced about 200 tons—one third of the world's silver.
• Silver from the mine was known as 'Soma Silver' and was given the highest trading credit in East Asia.
• The mine was closed in 1923 after nearly 400 years of operation.