Yayoi period

The Yayoi period (Jap.弥 生 时代, Yayoi jidai ) denotes a historical and cultural epoch of Japan, which is about the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD [note 1] extends and precedes that of the Kofun period. It owes its name to the discovery of a new type of ceramic. This reddish and harder ceramic was in contrast to the so-called " Corded Ware " of the preceding Jōmon period first produced on a potter's wheel and first found in 1884 on the site of the present University of Tokyo. By using the potter's wheel, it had become possible to produce cylindrical vessels and plates, which were usually unadorned.

Around 300 BC, there was a renewed influx of immigration from Korea, the displaced people of the Jōmon culture. First, the influx of northern Kyūshū and Nara eastward spread, while in the western and northern parts of Kanto, in the north of Tōhoku and Hokkaidō could continue to claim the Jōmon culture.

• 2.1 Agriculture
• 2.2 Processing of metals
• 2.3 Archeological Sites

Dating and periodization

Archaeological findings

Until the late 20th century was as certain that spanned the Yayoi period of 300 BC to 300 AD. The Yayoi period corresponds to the human history of the era of the Neolithic Age, which is characterized by the beginning of agriculture and animal husbandry. This development step in the ethnogenesis marks the beginning of settled life of the people. Therefore, in addition to the findings of the new Yayoi ceramics of wet rice cultivation and thus the transition from a society of hunter-gatherers such as the Jōmon time they figured significant.

The dating was based on the scientific comparison and classification of many thousands of pottery in Japan and on the mainland. 2003, however, amended the National Museum of Japanese History ( National Museum of Japanese History), valid until this division and moved the beginning of the Yayoi period in the chronology by 500 years after the beginning. In addition to the mentioned typological dating people began to make use of the radiocarbon dating method in Japan since 1951. This method seemed of little use, since the investigation of the finds revealed a wide variation in dating that did not allow a clear periodization for the Yayoi period. Only when the view of the ceramic and especially extended to rice cultivation and with the colonization processes brought from the mainland in connection to doubts as to the original date (3rd century BC to 3rd century AD ) began to rain. Finds in Itazuke and Nabatake show that the ceramic found the Jōmon period attributable and that at the same time already wet rice cultivation was operated. These findings and the importance of rice cultivation for the Neolithic period have led to a differentiation of periodization. Today you look at the last section of the late phase of the Jōmon period even as the beginning of the Yayoi period. The tripartite division as the graph shows five sections (IV ) expanded.

Historiografisches

To get an idea of the Japanese ethnogenesis, one would have recourse to written documents, scripture alone is only a few centuries later come to Buddhism to Japan. Nevertheless, there is a small number of documents, because Japan is first mentioned in Chinese sources. In the Chinese " Chronicles of the dynasties " Japan is in the chapter " barbarians of the East" (Tung -i) as the people of the Wa (倭, Ch: Where -jen ) means. The sources report of the customs of the people living there, as they put on makeup with pink and red colors and mourn and honor their dead. Before heavy tasks boiled bones are used for divination, and it will be long rituals to worship the deities performed.

The Chronicles of the Han Dynasty from the 1st century AD report of tribute shows Japan after Lolang. Accordingly, Emperor Wu - ti 57 BC sent a golden seal for washing people. After a period of military unrest ( 146-188 BC) described the " Chronicle of the Northern Wei Dynasty " again from the Wa people. From this controversial source shows that the Wa - nation was unified by Queen Himiko 188 in the country Yamatai.

Cultural development

Agriculture

First, it was assumed that the Neolithic Revolution was equated with the wet rice cultivation, which penetrated from China to Kyushu up to eastern Japan. The development is more complex today represents the new cultural influences, including rice cultivation, came with the continental ethnic groups in the 10th century BC to the Japanese islands. In 7 / 6 Century BC, is the cultivation of rice in northern Kyushu, BC and then in the Kantō region detectable in the 1st century. In addition to the wet rice cultivation also millet and buckwheat were grown. An advanced form of agriculture and agriculture ushering in a Neolithic. The cultivation of rice has been fast since he was henceforth to be a supporting economic component as a staple food. In addition, the pig, the chicken and the dog were domesticated. Due to the secure food production and the good water supply, the population was rising rapidly and there was an increase in the individual settlements.

Even in the Jōmon period had " Erdgrubenwohungen " built and used caves as dwelling. Erdgrubenwohungen consisted of a stone wall, which was piled up to an indentation around and covered with a conical roof made ​​of straw. If there is no indentation, then one speaks of a Erdbodenwohnung. In the Yayoi period also be stilt houses with gabled and hipped roof, first as a storage reservoir, then as apartments, built.

In addition to the daily life we also took funeral rites from the mainland. In particular, on Kyūshū dolmens and megalithic tombs were found similar to those in Korea. However, this monumental form of burial seems to have not enforced. Rather, one finds large vessels of Yayoi pottery, which served as urns and grave goods included.

Metal processing

This was made possible by the improvement of the equipment and techniques. In addition to the use of stone tools was the introduction of metal goods is crucial. Although bronze and iron were still expensive imported from Korea, for the production of weapons, ornaments and utensils she was but become indispensable. Archaeological finds prove that the art of metalworking, which had developed in China in the 16th century BC to a highly developed bronze culture was gradually dominated in Japan. Among the found cult objects include bronze mirrors and " Dōtaku " (铜 铎), a few centimeters to about 1.2 m high elliptical bronze bells without clappers. The exact meaning of these bells is unclear, but figures suggest that they were used for background music, associated with ancestor worship and the seasonal rhythm. They are divided by sawtooth and network stripes in fields with curved pattern and ornamentation and decorated.

Archeological Sites

Among the most famous archaeological sites of the Yayoi period include:

• Toro near Shizuoka
• Karako in the Nara level
• Yoshinogari, Saga Prefecture

In February 1991, a museum dedicated to the Yayoi culture was opened with an exhibition area of ​​4000 m² in Izumi in the prefecture of Osaka ( Osaka Prefectural Museum of Yayoi Culture).

Society

Even in society took place a change. Based on the Chinese documents can prove a hierarchical social structure:

With time, more and more families merged into large clans together ( gender associations ). In particular, the Yamato family exercised great power. In the Japanese annals ( Kojiki, Nihon Shoki ), the unit of Japan is BC created by the first Emperor Jimmu in 660, after he should have taken the country by Yamato. This date is, however, doubted and the actual agreement rather moved to the turn of the Yayoi period and the Kofun period.

The Shrine in Ise shrine is rebuilt every twenty years identical to an adjacent second place, the old building is on fire. Archaeological excavations of Yayoi villages have proved that the style of this wooden shrine, especially the roof structure to the Yayoi period can be traced back.