Bronze Ritual Implements of the Yayoi Period
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Bronze Bell ("Dōtaku")
Reportedly found in Kagawa Prefecture, Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC (National Treasure)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
April 8, 2026 (Wed) - September 6, 2026 (Sun)The Yayoi period marks the first use of metal tools in the Japanese archipelago. This section introduces the development of bronze artifacts of the Yayoi period (ca. 5th century BC–3rd century AD)—bronze swords, spears, dagger-axes, and bells (dōtaku) in particular—objects that evolved as ritual implements.
Bronze tools introduced to the Japanese archipelago from the Korean Peninsula at the beginning of the mid-Yayoi period soon began to be produced in northern Kyushu and the Kinki region. In northern Kyushu, three types of weapon-shaped bronze artifacts—bronze swords, spears, and dagger-axes—were actively adopted. Initially slender and practical weapons, these gradually transformed into large, flat ritual implements.
Meanwhile, the Kinki region saw the development of bronze bells (dōtaku), which trace their lineage to the small bronze bells of the Korean Peninsula. Larger than their Korean counterparts and featuring patterns, these Japanese bronze bells gradually lost their function as sound-producing instruments as they grew in size, instead becoming increasingly decorative. These bronze ritual objects are thought to have been used to pray for bountiful harvests and the prosperity of settlements. Additionally, during the late Yayoi period, various small bronze objects and imitations of bronze ware were produced.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | Bell (Dōtaku) | Reportedly found in Kagawa Prefecture | Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC | J-37433 | ||
| Highlight | Mirror with Multiple Eyelets and Small Patterns | Found in Kashiwara City, Osaka | Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC | J-20188 | |||
| Bronze Spearhead | Found in Tsushima City, Nagasaki | Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century | J-9142-1 | ||||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Casting Mold for Bronze Dagger-Axes | Found in Saga City, Saga | Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC | J-37005 | ||
| Highlight | Bell (Dōtaku) | Found in Toyokawa City, Aichi | Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century | J-9985 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Bell (Dōtaku) | Found in Yasu City, Shiga | Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century | J-826 |