Interaction with the Asian Continent and the Pottery of an Agricultural Society
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Jar with Human Face Ornament, Excavated at Ozakata Site, Chikusei-shi, Ibaraki, Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC (Gift of Mr. Tanaka Kunio)
Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
March 3, 2020 (Tue) - September 6, 2020 (Sun)Around the end of the Yayoi period in the first half of the 3rd century, large burial mounds with regionally-distinct shapes began to appear in various areas from Kanto to Kyushu. Villages in Japan were changing to states, with some gaining the power to unify others. A Chinese historical document even noted that in 239 and 240, Queen Himiko, the ruler of Japan’s Yamatai Kingdom, sent envoys to the Wei dynasty.
During the latter half of the 3rd century, keyhole-shaped burial mounds of unprecedented size and construction began to appear in the Kinai region, with the largest concentration in the Nara basin. Objects symbolizing political authority, such as bronze mirrors and ornaments, accompanied those buried inside. These developments show that politics in Japan had matured under the new Yamato Kingdom, which was even more powerful than Yamatai. These burial mounds were constructed on a wide scale until the 7th century, giving this era the name Kofun (ancient burial mound) period.
The pottery of the Kofun period was haji earthenware. Unlike earlier Yayoi pottery, it was uniform in design and did not feature regionally-distinct decorative patterns. This section explores the beginning of the Kofun period through haji pottery and bronze mirrors that were brought from China and placed in burial mounds.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Bronze Bell ("Dōtaku") | Found in Minabe Town, Wakayama | Yayoi period, 1st-3rd century | J-7127 | |||
| Highlight | Pot | Excavated at northern side of Hachiman Jinja, Miyadoko, Itoda-machi, Fukuoka | Yayoi period, 4th-3rd century BC | J-9671 | |||
| Highlight | Jar | Excavated at Nijofukae, Itoshima-shi, Fukuoka | Yayoi period, 4th-3rd century BC | J-36789 | |||
| Highlight | Footed Vessel | Found at Funahashi Site, Osaka | Yayoi period, 2nd-1st century BC | Gif of Mr. Tamura Atsumasa J-38746 | |||
| Highlight | Jar with Human Face Ornament | Excavated at Ozakata Site, Chikusei-shi, Ibaraki | Yayoi period, 2nd-1st century BC | Gift of Mr. Tanaka Kunio J-34947 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Jar | Found in Asagiri Town, Kumamoto | Yayoi period, 1st-3rd century | Private collection | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Gourd-Shaped Jar | Found in Asagiri Town, Kumamoto | Yayoi period, 1st-3rd century | Private collection |