Bronze Cultures of Northern Kyushu

Bronzes in the Japanese archipelago, such as planes, chisels, and axes, as well as weapons such as swords, spearheads, and halberds, were initially imported from the Korean peninsula to the northern part of Kyushu island during the later-early Yayoi period to the early-mid Yayoi period. The production of these bronzes in Japan emerged from this region.

Bronze objects such as swords were not used only as weapons, but were also buried in tombs together with bronze mirrors and beads to demonstrate the power of rulers. These objects gradually developed into larger forms and came to be used as ritual implements. The enlargement of bronze weapons, along with bronze bells, is a notable characteristic of bronzes of the Yayoi period.

This exhibition focuses on bronzes found at archaeological sites of the present-day Kitakyushu city, which was known as Kiku in ancient times, while also looking at bronze artifacts from other parts of northern Kyushu including the island of Tsushima. Stone objects that emerged under the influences of these bronzes are also exhibited to present an overview of the bronze cultures of this region. The exhibition is held as one of the museum's exchange loan programs of archaeological objects.