七つ森の樹々は雨を呼び、豊富な水が森に命を吹き込む。落葉層はスポンジのように雨水を吸いとって土砂の流出を防ぎ、貯えた水を上手に吐き出しながら豊かな森をささえる。
森の生き物たちの生存戦略を教えてもらったことがある。針葉樹は虫や動物の食害に弱く、全葉を食害されたり樹皮を環状に剥がれたりすると枯れてしまう。彼らは樹脂で虫を殺して生き残りをはかるが、虫たちはより強力な毒性をもって樹々を攻め、生き残りの闘いが続く。ところが広葉樹には樹脂道がなく、食害をうけると傷口を治癒していく。動物に樹皮を剥がされ幹が枯れても根っこから新芽を吹き出すしたたかな戦略ももっている。虫や動物と共存戦略をとっているようだ。
針葉樹も広葉樹もやがて枯れ、土の中の微生物たちは分解者となって枯れ木を土にもどして森の命をつなぐ。森の鳥や虫たちは今日も忙しくはね回り、月の輪熊や動物たちと山の恵みを分かち合いながら生きている。ある日、岩陰にひっそりと宿る森の精霊たちが、里で遊ぶ童子にそっと耳打ちをする。力持ちの大男、朝比奈三郎の「七つ森づくり」の伝説を。
The trees of the Nanatsu-Mori summon rain, infusing the forest with abundant water. The fallen leaves act like a sponge, absorbing rainwater, preventing soil erosion, and supporting the lush forest by skillfully releasing stored water.
I’ve learned about the survival strategies of the forest
creatures. Coniferous trees are vulnerable to insect and animal damage; if all their leaves are consumed or if the bark is peeled in a ring, they wither. They defend themselves by using resin to kill insects, but these insects counterattack with more potent toxins, leading to an ongoing survival struggle. In contrast, broadleaf trees lack resin channels; when damaged, they heal their wounds. They exhibit a resilient strategy by sprouting new shoots from the roots even if the bark is stripped and the trunk withers. Broadleaf trees seem to adopt a strategy of coexistence with insects and animals.
Both coniferous and broadleaf trees eventually wither, and soil microorganisms act as decomposers, returning the dead wood to the soil to sustain the forest’s life. Birds and insects busily flutter about, sharing the blessings of the mountain with the Moon Ring Bears and other creatures, living in harmony. The forest spirits, quietly dwelling in the shadows of rocks, gently whisper to the children playing in the village about the folklore of Saburo Asahina, the robust man, and his tale of “Creating the Seven Forests “.