Before the Time of Suō Provincial Government Office: Hōfu City during the Kofun Period
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Mirror with Six Deities
Found at the Kuroyama Tumulus No. 1, Yamaguchi, Kofun period, 5th centuryJapanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
January 2, 2025 (Thu) - July 6, 2025 (Sun)Hōfu City in Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan was where an ancient regional government office named Suō provincial government office existed and highly prospered. Hōfu boasted the largest number of tombs constructed for powerful individuals within Yamaguchi Prefecture between the late- to final Kofun period (ca. 3rd–7th century). The construction of many tombs resulted in rapid development of the regional society.
Through objects excavated from tombs, this section of the gallery examines the process in which Hōfu, with the establishment of Suō provincial government office, became the center of the region, mainly from the viewpoint of transportation of goods from and into this region.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Mirror with Six Deities | Found at the Kuroyama Tumulus No. 1, Yamaguchi | Kofun period, 5th century | J-2189 | |||
| Highlight | Comma-Shaped Beads ("Magatama") | Found at the Kuroyama Tumulus No. 1, Yamaguchi | Kofun period, 5th century | J-312-2 | |||
| Highlight | Comma-Shaped Bead ("Magatama") | Found at the Suiduteinai Tumulus, Yamaguchi | Kofun period, 6th century | J-34739-1 | |||
| Highlight | Earrings | Found at the Suiduteinai Tumulus, Yamaguchi | Kofun period, 6th century | J-34741 | |||
| Highlight | Footed Bowl with a Handle | Found at the Tataraterayama Tumuli, Yamaguchi# | Kofun period, 6th–7th century | J-13268 |