Editing Shimane Prefecture (section)

== History ==
[[File:MatsueCastle.jpg|thumb|[[Matsue Castle]]]]

=== Early history ===
{{See also|Historic Sites of Shimane Prefecture|Old provinces of Japan}}

The history of Shimane starts with Japanese mythology. The Shinto god [[Ōkuninushi]] was believed to live in [[Izumo Province|Izumo]], an old province in Shimane. [[Izumo-taisha|Izumo Shrine]], which is in the city of [[Izumo, Shimane|Izumo]], honors the god.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.izumooyashiro.or.jp/kamigami/izumo/index.html |title=Izumo Shrine website |access-date=August 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823070951/http://www.izumooyashiro.or.jp/kamigami/izumo/index.html |archive-date=August 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> At that time, the current Shimane prefecture was divided into three parts: [[Iwami Province|Iwami]], [[Izumo Province|Izumo]], and [[Oki Province|Oki]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC| p. 780|page=780}}</ref> That lasted until the [[abolition of the han system|abolition of the ''han'' system]] took place in 1871. During the [[Nara period]], [[Kakinomoto no Hitomaro]] wrote a poem on Shimane's nature when he was sent as the Royal governor.<ref>[http://www.pref.shimane.jp/profile/kisojoho/rekisi.html Shimane Prefecture introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970303094623/http://pref.shimane.jp/profile/kisojoho/rekisi.html |date=March 3, 1997 }}</ref>

Later on in the [[Kamakura period]] (1185–1333), the [[Kamakura shogunate]] forced emperors [[Emperor Go-toba|Go-Toba]] and [[Emperor Go-Daigo|Godaigo]] into exile in Oki. Emperor Go-Daigo later escaped from Oki and began rallying supporters against the shogunate, which proved successful.<ref name="super">{{cite book|title=スーパー日本史 Super Nihon-shi|author=古川清行 Furukawa Kiyoyuki|year=2003|publisher=講談社 Kōdansha|isbn=4-06-204594-X}}</ref>

=== Middle ages ===
[[File:Shimizudani Refinery Ruins at Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine 001.jpg|thumb|right|A view of Shimizudani silver mine refinery ruin, a part of UNESCO World Herritage area]]
During the [[Muromachi period]] (1336–1573), Izumo and Oki were controlled by the [[Kyōgoku clan]]. However, after the [[Ōnin War]], the [[Amago clan]] expanded power based in [[Gassantoda Castle]] and the [[Masuda clan]] dominated [[Iwami Province]]. The [[Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine]] was located between Amago territory and Masuda territory, and there were many battles between the clans for the silver. In 1566 [[Mōri Motonari]] conquered Izumo, Iwami, and Oki.<ref name="super" /> In 1600, after over 30 years of Mori control, Horio Yoshiharu entered Izumo and Oki as the result of [[Battle of Sekigahara]], which Mori lost. Following the change, Horio Yoshiharu decided to move to build [[Matsue Castle]] instead of Gassan-Toda, and soon after Yoshiharu's death the castle was completed. In 1638, the grandson of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] {{ill|Matsudaira Naomasa|ja|松平直政}} became the ruler because the Horio clan had no heir, and his family ruled until the abolition of the ''han'' system.

The Iwami area was split into three regions: the mining district, under the direct control of the Shogunate, the Hamada clan region, and the Tsuwano clan region. The [[Iwami Ginzan]], now a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]], produced silver and was one of the nation's largest silver mines by the early 17th century. The Hamada clan was on the shogunate's side in the [[Meiji Restoration]], and the castle was burned down. The Tsuwano clan, despite then being ruled by the Matsudaira, was on the emperor's side in the restoration.<ref name="aramashi">[http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/kochokoho/profile/aramasi.html History of Shimane Prefecture] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118032551/http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/kochokoho/profile/aramasi.html |date=November 18, 2007 }}</ref>

=== Modern age ===
In 1871, the abolition of the ''han'' system placed the old Shimane and Hamada Provinces in the current area of Shimane Prefecture. Later that year, Oki became part of Tottori. In 1876, Hamada Prefecture was merged into Shimane Prefecture. Also, [[Tottori Prefecture]] was added in the same year. However, five years later, in 1881, the current portion of Tottori Prefecture was separated and the current border was formed.<ref name="aramashi" />