The origin of bronzes in Yayoi Japan can be traced to their counterparts in XiaShang-Zhou China. It must have happened that ancient Chinese bronze weapons and small bells used as practical implements were first spread...The origin of bronzes in Yayoi Japan can be traced to their counterparts in XiaShang-Zhou China. It must have happened that ancient Chinese bronze weapons and small bells used as practical implements were first spread into Japan through northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula and then developed gradually into bronzes exclusively for sacrificial use. Among the bronzes unearthed in batches from hoards in the Izumo area within the coastland of the Sea of Japan, the spearheads may have been made in the north of Kyushu, the small bells must have come from the Kinai region, and the over 300 swords were probably local products. The repeated discovery of Yayoi bronze hoards in the Izumo area suggests that this region was absolutely not an unpopulated land. On the contrary, as a very important district, it should be fully affirmed to have played a considerable role in the development of ancient Japanese history.展开更多
The territory of Shimane Prefecture, Japan, was called Izumo in ancient times. In 1984--1985, 358 swords, six small bells and 16 spearheads, all bronzes, were unearthed from the Kojindani site in this prefecture, whic...The territory of Shimane Prefecture, Japan, was called Izumo in ancient times. In 1984--1985, 358 swords, six small bells and 16 spearheads, all bronzes, were unearthed from the Kojindani site in this prefecture, which constituted an unprecedented discovery in Japanese archaeology. In 1996, the Kamoiwakura site not far away from Kojindani yielded 39 small bronze bells, offering further evidence of the splendor of the ancient Izumo culture represented by bronzes and dated to about 2000BP.展开更多
文摘The origin of bronzes in Yayoi Japan can be traced to their counterparts in XiaShang-Zhou China. It must have happened that ancient Chinese bronze weapons and small bells used as practical implements were first spread into Japan through northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula and then developed gradually into bronzes exclusively for sacrificial use. Among the bronzes unearthed in batches from hoards in the Izumo area within the coastland of the Sea of Japan, the spearheads may have been made in the north of Kyushu, the small bells must have come from the Kinai region, and the over 300 swords were probably local products. The repeated discovery of Yayoi bronze hoards in the Izumo area suggests that this region was absolutely not an unpopulated land. On the contrary, as a very important district, it should be fully affirmed to have played a considerable role in the development of ancient Japanese history.
文摘The territory of Shimane Prefecture, Japan, was called Izumo in ancient times. In 1984--1985, 358 swords, six small bells and 16 spearheads, all bronzes, were unearthed from the Kojindani site in this prefecture, which constituted an unprecedented discovery in Japanese archaeology. In 1996, the Kamoiwakura site not far away from Kojindani yielded 39 small bronze bells, offering further evidence of the splendor of the ancient Izumo culture represented by bronzes and dated to about 2000BP.
