【Japanese Tour Guide’s History of Japan-6】The Jomon Period-3
Hi everyone, welcome to the online lecture history of Japan. I’m at O stone circles in Kazano Act perfeure. Very unique place where you can feel spirituality of the German people. I’ll talk about this place later. Why was the German period peaceful for about 13,000 years? These are the six key points of the period. I’ve explained about environment, food, tools, fashion, and the living space. So far, the topics of this video are trade and logistics and belief. Let’s start right away. First, trade and logistics. To begin with the conclusion, the German people had a very wide range of activities. There are so many German sites and people trade with each others. For example, various things were gathered at Sai Marima site from many different places. This is a very famous and symbolic German site and I covered this site in the previous video. Regional obsidian was brought from different places such as Tokachi and Shirataki in Hokkaido in Aka Kasan in Yamagata S in Nigata and Kirigam in Nango Prefectures. This glass-like stone was processed into arrows and speares for hunting, knives for cooking and other tools. Jade was brought from the Ittoyawa area in Ningata Prefecture about 470 kilometers away. The place minded jade was very rare and limited. It was mainly from this area. Jade from Ittoigawa were found at Funadari site in Hokkaido about 800 kilometers away. This site flourished from about 3,800 to 3,500 years ago. Amber was brought from Kooji area in northern Iwata prefecture. Jade and amber are thought to have been necessary for decoration and rituals rather than as daily use. Next, asphalt. When crude oil that has exuded to the surface of the earth and expos it to wind and rain, it oxidize into asphalt. Natural asphelt has durability and adhesion. This is natural asphalt as it is used today for road paving and waterproofing materials. The German people also made use of its properties. Happens, arrowheads and other items using this material have been excavated in German sites. It was used as a glue to attach arrowheads to the ends of wooden arrows and repair broken potteries. Collected asphalt lumps were carried in potteries or shells as a containers. A large amount of tools used for application were also excavated indicating that the tools were used while being melted by heat. Asphelt in a pottery was found at Toyosaki site in Hakodate Hokkaido. Very close to this place at Mako Bite. Lumps of asphalt were discovered too. This is thought to have been a workshop. These sites date back about 3,500 years. These places are considered as asphalt producing sites during the German period. Most of them were located on the Sea of Japan side which coincides with current oil and natural gas production areas. Asat was transported to Funadari site in Hokkaido. [Music] In the previous video, I talked about Satama site in Miyagi Prefecture, the largest salt producing site during the German period. Salt was transported across the old mountains to villages in present Yamagata areas. Conversely, many stone tools made of shell from the Moami Liba basin in Yamagata were found in shell mounts along the coast of Machima Bay where there was no stone to make stone tools. These findings clearly indicate that trade was conducted between the two regions. Let’s take a look at the German site in KTO region. This is general view of Kasari Shell mounts. It’s one of a symbolic German sites. The picture is the reconstructed village. From here obsidian from Wat to Nangano Prefecture and Kushima a remote island about 160 kilometers away were excavated. Jade from Ittoya was found too in western Japan. Many stones called instatite andite have been found. This is a hard glassy stone formed when lava rapidly cooled and hardened near the surface of the earth during a volcanic eruption. Like obsidian, it was used as arrowheads and knives and distributed in the surrounding areas. It’s extremely rare mineral in the world. Found only in Nijosa in Nara Prefecture and Koskidai area in Kagawa Prefecture. Oki islands are also producing area of Obsidian. It was transported not only to the surrounding areas but also to present Russia and the Korean peninsula. Oki obsidian were discovered in 18,000y old ruins around Nhatka and Vlad stock. It’s before the German period. There were obsidian producing areas in western Japan too. What is even more surprising is that the shells which are only found around the southern part of Japan were transported to Hunadari site Hokkaido about 2,000 kilometers and more away. Jade from it were found in Okinawa Prefecture in Okinawa. Piece of pottery from Tohoku were discovered at Hanzambar B site Chhatan 2. By the way, how did they transport these items? land roots. Of course, as you already know, they were transported by dagot canoe. It was made by splitting a chestnut or cedar tree log in half and hollowing out the inside. Japan’s oldest wooden dagot boat was discovered at Kaminarisha site in Chiba Prefecture. It was used about 7,500 years ago. Length is about 7.2 m and width is 50 cm. This site was discovered during excavations for road construction. Wooden boats of the German period have been found at 60 sites throughout Japan. These are just example. We can imagine that the trade routes were much more complex and overlapping. Anyway, these facts tell us that large scale trade was already flourishing throughout Japan and far a field at the time. Finally about belief. Let’s take a look at the transition figure of residential style presented in the last video. The Jamon people’s belief is closely related to their lifestyle. Although there are differences according to period and location. Residential areas and tombs were located very close to each other. I want to present two sites that are representative of the period. First Sai Marima site. This site cannot be dismissed when describing the German period. In this figure it is here. This is a residential area. These are the graves of adults and children. This is mount where the soil from digging pit houses, ashes, potteries, stone tools and other waste were dumped. As the process was repeated many times, it became higher than the surrounding area eventually forming a small hill. The earth, sand, and waste were level as much as possible. Do you remember Omar Shellmont that I covered in the previous video? This site is a pioneer of Japanese archaeology. It’s quite possible that the shell mound was not just a dumping ground for food and parties, but also a place to bury the old things they ate and used. Some scholars suggest that it was a place of rituals to send things back to the other world after they had served their purpose. It said that that act of throwing things away was accompanied by a prayer that they would return and bring abundance. The German people are thought to have believed that the spirits inhabit everything in this world. About the six pillar still building that is one of the symbol of this site. It said that the use of the building include a place to worship the sacred, a watchtower and a monument. On the other hand, there is another theory. There are five building sites with similar pillar layouts near here. It said that the placement of these pillars may be related to sunrise and sunset depending on the season. The verified result are maybe or maybe not. Further excavation and the verification is needed to uncover the truth. Next one is O stone circles. It’s located on the plateau on the bank of Oyu river in Kazuno city. It’s believed that people lived here about 4,000 years ago. This is a large scale ritual site in the late Jan period. The site consists mainly of two large stone circles. Mand stone circle has a diameter of 52 m and nonakad’s diameter is 44 m. In this figure, this site belongs to here. The stones grouped in units of a dozen or more are arranged to form a double circle. These are tombs and human bones have been found in holes dug under the stones. The stones were brought from a nearby river. About 6,500 stones were used in the mandite and 2,000 in the nonakadoo side. Part of the outer ring is broken off and there are some wide passageways extend outward. The passage is lined on both sides with stones. There were the remains of dugout houses. Since there is no trace of fireplace inside, it’s presumed that these were not dwelling but facilities for funeral and ceremonies. It’s thought that this site was not only a communal cemetery but also a place for rituals to be performed jointly by the people living in the surrounding villages. It may have been a place to strengthen family or community ties through rituals. Some believe that this site is the one that is associated with the sun. The line connecting the center of nonagado, the center of manza, and the sileshaped stones coincide with the direction of sunset on the summer solstice. German period stone circles are concentrated in northern and eastern Japan. These are the names of the ruins with their location. Although I only showed you the example of two German sites, they suggest that people of the time had an appreciation for nature and all beings and a sense of concern for ancestral spirits as a part of their daily lives. This is the essence of Shinto that I introduced in the first video of the lecture. Thanks to nature and our many ancestors, we are alive today. I believe these thoughts and customs are still carried on to us. Well, I want to introduce some customs and objects that symbolize the spirituality of the German people. Burial. During the German period, there was no custom of cremation. And when morning the deceased, they were buried mostly in the crouched position. The main custom was to lay people on their backs. There are some theories as to the reason for the practice of burial in the crunching position. Some say it was to save labor in digging barrel pits, to pray for the rebirth in the fatal position, to avoid the resurrection of the evil spirits of the dead or to take the form of a natural resting position. Mostly the limbs of the disease were bent while in others the limbs were straightened. In some cases, special ornaments and accessories are found in graves. Children who died in infancy were buried in mass graves close to their dwellings, often in coffins made from reused potteries used for boiling and cooking. Many of the potteries have holes and round stones were placed inside. It suggests that there may have been other feelings towards child’s death, such as hope for rebirth. Kids footprint. Clay plates fired after children’s feet were pressed into clay have been excavated from Hokkaido to Tohok regions. Some plates with handprints on them have been found too. The tablets are about 1 to2 cm thick. Each plates has one or two holes through which a strings can be threaded to hang it. It said that these were made by parents as a momento of their children who died an early age. On the other hand, there is another theory. It’s a good luck charm to pray for healthy growth of the child. Either way, it’s a heartwarming proof of affection between parents and children. Dog graves are also found at the German sites because they were believed to be very good partners for German people’s daily lives. Sometimes they were buried with people and sometimes they were found with burial accessories. [Music] Tooth extraction. Many of the excavated German people show evidence of intentional tooth extraction. Although there were regional differences that anterior either upper or lower jaw and canine teeth were mainly extracted. It’s generally considered as a right of passage to become an adult. There are other possible reason include marriage, mourning, wishing for the resurrection of the dead and to ward off evil spirits. Doguan figure. It’s one of the mysteries of the German period. They are doll-like object made of clay. They are found all over Japan and very informed according to age and location. The oldest one found at identicumahara site is about 13,000 years old. It’s about 3 cm high. Many of them are in female form. They have breasts and represent pregnant women. Some hold a child. This shape lead to the theory that they were made to pray for the prosperity of offspring and safe child birth. In addition, they are often found with missing hands and feet. The result of excavation of human bones have revealed that many people died of infectious disease at the time and some were found to have suffered from cancer, broken bones, rheumatism and other diseases. That’s why there is another theory that dogu was used in substitutionary spell to pray for the healing of the bad parts of the body by breaking them. This was found at Sai Malama site a flat clay figurine. Length is 32 cm. The head was excavated from the garbage dump area in yellow and the body from the habitation area in orange about 90 m away. In the Kanto and the Tohoku regions, food was abandoned during the Middle German period. It was very warm. German people ate white vegetables, collected chestnuts and mushrooms, cultivated potatoes and beans, caught fish and animals according to the seasons. However, in the late German period, it was cold time and became difficult to collect and cultivate food. The graph on the right shows the number of excavated dogu in the middle and late German period. As you can see, the number of dogu excavated in these areas in the late German period increased compared to the middle German period. This fact leads some to believe that they were used to pray for good harvest. One researcher has proposed a theory. Spirits of certain nuts, grains or shellfish were symbolized to pray for good harvest. Look at this image. According to the theory, this figure represent the spirits of onigurumi, a kind of walnuts. The face of the dogu is assumed to represent the cross-section of a cracked walnut. The area where this dogu was found is still blessed with walnut trees today. The another one is an imitation of a clam. This dogu was found around today’s lake kasmigora where was the sea during the middle German period. Many clams and shells were found at the German sites around this area. It indicates that people at the time ate them. The theory is that its face is a clamshell and hands are clam feet and its breast represent the shellfish water inlet pipes. It’s very interesting perspective. Let me show you some unique dogu. This one was excavated at Chobonino site. The inside is hollow and the outside is covered with lacquer. It was discovered in 1975 when a lady put her hole in the field to dig potatoes. This place is very close to the site where the lacquered barrel items were discovered that I introduced in the last video. This one is called Gasho. Gasho means joint palms together. The figure pose seated, arms resting on knees, hands together in front, fingers interlocked. The base of both thighs and knees and arms are broken, but there are signs of asphalt repair in the broken parts. Red pigment remains on the face and parts of the body of the figurine, suggesting that the entire body was painted red at the time when it was used. And the most famous toou in Japan is this. It’s called shakoshiki toou. Literally, it means figure has a light shielding. It has gole like eyes. What does it look like to you? Many people say it looks like an alien. This was found at Kameoka site in Almori Prefecture and can now be seen at the Tokyo National Museum. Shakoski style dogu were excavated mainly at the late German period site located around northern took regions. There are so many unique dogu but I have to stop. Another mystery magatama. It’s curved or common shaped stone materials include jade agot crystal stone clay and animal fangs. What this shape represent is uncovered. There are some theories. Moon, fetus, in and young, and the shape of the soul. Why did the German people made them? It’s said that Nagatama were ornaments to be attached to necklaces. It’s also believed to have been used as an amulet to protect against evil spirits. I personally believe that it was used as a symbol to bond strong ties among family and clan. Mangatama is one of the three sacred treasures regarding the emperor. The three sacred treasures are mirrors sword and jewel. They represent the three primary virtues wisdom, valor and benevolence. Since ancient times, these treasures are inherited from previous emperor through traditional ceremony. When a new emperor ascends to the throne when his majesty the emperor Narhito acceded to the throne on 1st May in 2019 the ceremony for inheriting the emperor regalia and seals was conducted through the ceremony and were handed over from the previous emperor to the newly enthroned emperor. According to the my miss kojiki when nining mikoto descended from the worlds of kamis to today’s Japan to govern the land amater omikami handed him rice ears at the same time his majesty received the three sacred treasures and here we are today rice is very important staple food for us this is what I meant in the first video have existed in Japan since ancient times and long traditions have been handed down to the present A mangatama was already used in the German period and it is still used in the sacred imperial ceremonies. Finally, I want to show you unique German items. These are the ones excavated in Oy stone circles. Small mushrooms and bell-shaped aromares and small pots. Aren’t they cute? I wonder if people wish for good harvest with these. And this is dbang. Cute, isn’t it? It looks like a mascot. If you look closely, you can see dice like dots from one to six on the front and back. The bottom part of the tablet has a hole which is connect to a mouse-like hole. What on earth were the German people thinking when they made these things? Very unique and interesting. The German period was a very prosperious and peaceful time. Throughout the German period series so far, I have briefly summarized it. There are many mysteries because there are no written or textual materials. It may be so hard to find the truth about purpose and reason for the items and rituals of this period. But I believe there are things we should learn now from the traces left behind by the German people. Appreciation to our ancestors and nature and live with nature. Go with the flow. The German period series ends here. Let’s move on to the next Japan travel tips. Lake Touada. It’s about 23 kilometers from ostone circles. This was a volcano. Rain water accumulated inside Cardella over a long period of time and formed the lake. There is cruise ship. If you have a chance to visit Lake Touada, don’t forget to take riverside walk at Oasu. The water comes from the lake. Clear water, sounds of stream and waterfalls, beautiful colors and sense of trees and leaves makes you very relaxing. Every season has different scenery. Tokyo National Museum is located in Winnop Park area. There are so many collections. At the main hall, you can see prominent exhibits like ceramics, sculptures, lucky crafts, old letters, paintings, samurai swords and arms and kimonos and more. In the Heon visers can see the shakoskidogu is connected to the main building and exhibits excavated items from the paleic to the period. The museum constantly has special exhibitions throughout the year. There are also other museums and weno zoo nearby. Wen park is very famous for cherry blossoms when they are in full bloom. The tunnel of the cherry blossom is stunning. When you have a chance to visit here right time, please enjoy hanami as Japanese people do. You’ll see many happy campers. It’s so fun. That’s all. Thank you for watching. See you next time.
【Table of contents】
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Trade and Logistics
07:26 Sannai Maruyama Site
09:54 Oyu Stone Circles
12:19 Burial
13:36 Kid’s Foot Print
14:18 Dog grave
14:33 Tooth Extraction
15:01 Dogu
19:36 Magatama
21:45 Unique Jomon Items
22:25 Conclusion
22:59 Japan Travel Tips – Lake Towada and Oirase Keiryu
23:37 Japan Travel Tips – Tokyo National Museum and Ueno Park
24:32 Special Thanks, Thanks and Closing
【Source of reference】*All in Japanese
●Books●
○History of Japan
大角修/インフォビジュアル研究所・著, 山折哲雄・監修. 『図解でわかる 14歳からの天皇と皇室入門』. 太田出版. 2018年
古代史の真実を研究する会. 『世界が驚愕する！ 封印された日本の古代史』. 宝島社. 2024年
齋藤武夫.『授業作りJAPANの日本が好きになる！ 歴史全授業』. 授業作りJAPANさいたま. 2020年
関裕二. 『「縄文」の新常識を知れば日本の謎が解ける』. PHP文庫. 2021年
竹内睦泰. 『超速！ 日本史の流れ』. ブックマン社. 2013年
竹倉史人.『土偶を読む』. 晶文社. 2021年
竹倉史人.『土偶を読む図鑑』. 小学館. 2022年
竹田恒泰. 『国史 教科書 中学校社会科用』. 令和書籍. 2024年
田中英道. 『美しい「形」の日本』. ビジネス社. 2013年
田中英道. 『日本国史(上)』. 育鵬社. 2022年
「ニッポン再発見」俱楽部. 『ここまでわかった！ 縄文と弥生 77の謎』. 三笠書房. 2024年
藤岡信勝, 他.『検定不合格 新しい歴史教科書』. 自由社. 2020年
松木武彦. 『目からウロコ 日本古代の新常識』. 中央公論新社. 2023年
望月昭秀,他. 『土偶を読むを読む』. 文学通信. 2023年
山田康弘. 『地図でスッと頭に入る 縄文時代』. 昭文社. 2021年
他
●Web site●
チノポス 日本史
http://chinopos.jp/user/teacher/25
【公式】竹田恒泰チャンネル 2. 『竹田学校』. 2020年
他
【Source of pictures and music】
Aomori Prefecture, Tourism and International Affairs Strategy BureauAso City
Aquamarine Fukushima
Chatan Museum
Chiba Prefectural board of education
ColBase
Geological Museum, Geological Survey of Japan, AIST
Hakodate Jomon Culture Center
Itoigawa City Tourism Association
Imperial Household Agency
Iwate Tourism Association
JOMON ARCHIVES
Kasori Shell Mounds Museum
Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History
Korekawa Archaeological Institution
National Museum of Japanese History
Osaka Museum of History
Rebun town board of Education
Sannnai Maruyama Jomon Culture Center
Sannnai Maruyama Site
Shiga Prefecture
Shinagawa Ward Board of Education
The Niigata Prefectural Museum of History
Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology
TNM Image Archives
Yamagata Prefectural Museum
illust AC
photo AC
photolibrary
素材Library.com
Audiostock
【Note】
・Movies of the lecture is based on reference of books and movies about history of Japan.
If I find out new information, I’ll share those to you. If I find out correction about the contents, I’ll revise it.
・I sometimes state my point of view in the movies.
・I do content planning, photo taking, video shooting, recording, editing by myself to produce the movie.
Although I’m an amateur creator of the movie, I try to improve my skill to produce better quality contents.
・About the name of persons. In Japan, the family name comes first and the given name comes after. But in this video, for convenience, the given name comes first and the family name comes after, in accordance with the viewers in many Western countries.
【Contact】
masashi.kaki.design@gmail.com
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