The Yamato Kingdom and the Production of Symbols of Authority
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Four-Legged Dish
Found at the Tsuruyama Maruyama Tumulus, Okayama, Kofun period, 4th–5th centuryUpcomingJapanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
April 8, 2026 (Wed) - November 29, 2026 (Sun)From the 4th century, Chinese-style bronze mirrors were created in Japan and placed in burial mounds. These large mirrors were finely-crafted with unique designs, and, as this burial practice suggests, held special meaning in the Yamato Kingdom. Jasper, bronze, and stone copies of various ornaments were also buried in these mounds. They included distinctive hoe-shaped stone objects modeled after shell bracelets that were valued in the preceding Yayoi period. The Yamato government began creating such objects to show its political and religious authority. Moreover, certain objects, such as those made of jasper, were created with the aid of provincial clans.
Use of these objects and the construction of burial mounds for high-ranking rulers (these mounds featured stone chambers that were sealed from the top) spread from the Yamato Kingdom to the west. It is believed that provincial clans used these objects as evidence of their alliance with Yamato and as symbols of their own prestige.
The establishment and expansion of the Yamato Kingdom was also related to political developments in other East Asian countries. In China, the fall of the Western Jin dynasty ushered in the Sixteen Kingdoms period (316–420), while the three kingdoms of Korea – Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla– began to annex neighboring regions.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Four-Legged Dish | Found at the Tsuruyama Maruyama Tumulus, Okayama | Kofun period, 4th–5th century | J-33975 | |||
| Highlight | Mirror with Concentric Circles | Found at the Kikkōzan Tumulus, Ōita | Kofun period, 4th century | J-6781 | |||
| National Treasure | Sword with an Inscription and Ring Pommel | Found at the Tōdaijiyama Tumulus, Nara | Kofun period, 4th century; sword blade: created in China, 2nd century | J-39135 | |||
| Highlight | Bracelet | Found at the Kai Chōshizuka Tumulus, Yamanashi | Kofun period, 4th century | J-20334 | |||
| Highlight | Cylindrical Objects | Found at the Iwaseoyama Nekozuka Tumulus, Kagawa | Kofun period, 3rd–4th century | Gift of Kagawa Prefecture, J-6186 | （3個のうち2個） | ||
| Important Cultural Property | Mirror with Mythical Dragons (Tuolong) | Found in an unknown location | Kofun period, 4th century | Gift of Mr. Dan Inou, J-35507 | |||
| Highlight | Triangular-Rimmed Mirror with Three Deities and Three Beasts | Found at the Kikkōzan Tumulus, Ōita | Kofun period, 4th century | J-6780 | |||
| Staff-Shaped Ceremonial Object | Found in an unknown location | Kofun period, 4th century | J-2778-1 |