In the article "The reason why tumuli have come to be made", I also investigated iron.
This time, although it may not be directly related to Japanese history, I will write about my impressions of what I have researched and trivia.
I wrote it only in my memory, so I hope you can keep it as a reference for your research. By the way, this topic is not limited to Japanese history.
The first country where the Hittites started using iron
From around 1500 BC, it seems that he was making ironware using meteorites that are Hittite and contain a lot of iron, and it is mentioned as a country that started using iron for the first time.
This iron-rich meteorite is [ iron loss ] Is called.
It is said that this Hittite is destroyed (there are various theories) due to the lack of food due to the civil war and the decrease in fuel (wood) required for processing.
Use of iron from mainland China
In the neighboring mainland China, iron casting began in the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, and it seems that it had iron technology 1500 years ahead of Europe.
Bronze , not from iron meteorites I made it with the technique of raising the temperature using the bellows (bellows) that was devised when I was making.
However, too much deforestation has led to environmental destruction and iron technology has been abolished.
After all, if the country is continuous with land and there are a lot of resources, the surroundings are full of enemies, and if you do not mass-produce it, there are various things that are not good now.
By the way, I remember seeing that Japan has been struggling to adjust its population since ancient times. I am worried because both environmental problems and population adjustment are directly linked to us now.
It remains a myth in the Japanese archipelago! ??
Kibi Iron The story of Momotaro remained as a tradition, and the story of iron remained as a myth in Izumo. ?? There is a theory.
Regarding the myth, Yamata no Orochi, the scene where Susanoo defeated Yamata no Orochi, may represent the steelworks. There was a blog who wrote that. With the same content, wasn't it a flood countermeasure rather than a steel mill? Some people say.
Myths do not directly represent the facts, but some parts may be left as metaphors, so I would like to take a closer look.
Description in Nihon Shoki * Addition:November 29, 2014
Part of Nihon Shoki , which is said to have been completed in 720 Since there was a description that I was interested in, I will describe it.
History <
In summary, " Isotakeru When the god of tree planting came down, he brought many tree seeds, but he planted them in Japan without planting them in Silla. "" Silla has gold and silver treasures, but not in Japan. Instead, cedar as a treasure. Let's give hinoki, maki, and kusunoki. "
In addition, it is said that hinoki is used as a material for making Mizumiya, but since another wood was mainly used in the Yayoi period, the story after the Kofun period It is considered.
The question here is why I didn't sow Silla.
Isn't it possible that Silla was depleted of wood at this point?
Iron is also an important resource for building a country, but it required abundant forest resources to make it. Perhaps other than balls and salt, wood, which we take for granted in Japan, was one of the negotiation factors.
* Updated on September 13, 2017