Kofun period from the latter half of the 3rd century to the latter half of the 6th century Was probably the most prosperous era in Japanese history in a civilization without letters. The cultural culmination that has sprung up in the Jomon and Yayoi eras I think it can be said. At the same time, it was also a time when it became an opportunity to shape the nation of Japan in the future.
This time, I would like to write from the middle to the latter half of the Yayoi period, taking into account the background of how the tumulus was made.
Flow until the birth of the tumulus
Here are some events that may lead to the Kofun period.
Events in Japan
Around the 2nd to 1st centuries BC
The temperature peaked around this time and dropped (the Yayoi period was the transition period from the warm period to the cold period).
It continues until the Kofun period (6th century AD).
Around AD-1st century AD
- Floods occur frequently mainly in western Japan ⇒ Climate change causes unstable crop yields
- Ironware spreads over a wide area
- Appearance of highland villages
Japan's national unification and changes in the distribution of highland villages:General remarks on Yamatai-What is the identity of Himiko, the Queen of Wa?
Yoshinori Yasuda 1990 "The rise and fall of climate and civilization" from Asakura Shoten
(↑ Although it is a figure after AD, it can be seen that the climate at the time of the Yayoi period is not stable)
Events on the Korean Peninsula, China
206 BC (=end of the 3rd century BC)
Qin on the continent After the fall of (221 BC-206 BC),
Han by Gaozu Liu Kun Is founded
195 BC (=first half of the 2nd century BC)
Wiman of Gojos Mr. Joseon on the Korean Peninsula Founded the country.
108 BC
Mr. Mamoru Korea was destroyed by the Han, Lelang County, Zhenfan County, Lintun County, Xuantu County As
It becomes the territory of Han.
Of course, there were migrants from China and the Korean Peninsula even before the 3rd century BC, but if there was such a movement in the neighboring country in this short period of time, it would have been natural for some to escape.
Shortly before that, in 219 BC, a person named Xu Fu came to the Japanese archipelago with many engineers on the order of Qin Shi Huang to obtain a medicine for immortality. Unlike before, it seems that he was a large-scale and planned colonist to the Japanese archipelago. Even now, "Xu Fu Legend" remains in various parts of Japan.
Perhaps there was also an increase in migrants due to the turmoil of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. It seems that iron was flowing in at an early stage in northern Kyushu. Due to the subsequent movement of people, ironware will gradually spread after around AD. At the same time, highland villages are expanding.
Birth of ironware
From the distribution of ironware and highland villages, Northern Kyushu-Setouchi-Kinai It is speculated that there was a political dispute with armed conflict between them.
In addition, there are places where there is no evidence of people living (there are moats around the mountaintop and sections where the tips of ridges are artificially cut), and such places are referred to as "festivals" or "sanctuaries." It is believed that it existed.
I will summarize the significance of the existence of highland villages that can be considered from here.
- Role as a military facility (including ruins where many weapons were found)
- The role of watching the traffic routes that are the key to the transportation of goods including iron
- Psychological or religious reasons that indicate hierarchical relationships such as social hierarchy and inequality
It is said that during the Yayoi period, iron could not be covered by the Japanese archipelago alone.
Before the 6th century, near the end of the Kofun period, it seems that iron materials from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula were obtained and used. Although it may change in future research, there is a place that is said to be an ironworks site called Komaru Site (Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture) around 200 AD.
Next, Northern Kyushu-Setouchi-Kinai Suppose there was an armed conflict in. Iron would have been relatively easy to obtain in northern Kyushu. It seems that there is a route that can be negotiated directly.
In fact, on Nukuto Island, which is located between the Korean Peninsula and northern Kyushu, it seems that multiple human bones with "tooth extraction", a custom not found on the Korean Peninsula, have been found. This custom is rooted in the Japanese archipelago, and it is said that the skeleton is very similar to the skeleton of "Wajin" who lived in northern Kyushu.
However, this is not the case in other areas. It seems that some sort of mediation was needed. Looking at the map, Kibi is between the Korean Peninsula and China and Setouchi-Kinai. (Around Okayama prefecture, eastern Hiroshima prefecture, islands in Kagawa prefecture, western Hyogo prefecture), Izumo (Eastern Shimane Prefecture), Tanba Province (Central Kyoto, northern Hyogo prefecture, northern Osaka prefecture) is in between.
"Looking from a later era," all countries have a very close relationship with iron, and all of them have great power in this era. Kibi Also includes the Komaru ruins, and Izumo There is even a theory that the etymology of the country name is "Izumo", that is, "Idetetsu" in historical kana orthography, Tanba Province . But a lot of iron has been found.
Why did the relationship with iron deepen?
Not to mention the natural environment, it seems that we were able to interact with China and the Korean Peninsula more than in other regions. In fact, there is plenty of evidence of interaction with China and the Korean Peninsula in these countries.
This raises another question.
At this time, iron distribution routes were already established in both China and the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, what was the price for earning iron for the sake of life? What was needed in Japan's Kuni? ??
If there was a war in northern Kyushu-Seto Inland Sea-Kinai, wouldn't it have been mediated by Kibi, Izumo, and Tanba Province when getting iron outside of northern Kyushu?
At that time, what was the price paid from Wakoku to get iron? ??
I think that the hint to make an old burial mound is hidden there.
Special products other than iron
It is a specialty other than iron.
Jade / Green Tuff in Kibi, Izumo and Tanba Province Valuable balls and tube balls Is made. It seems that crystal balls were also made in Tamba. Salt is also known as a specialty in Kibi.
For a long time in China, salt was a monopoly because it was necessary for the common people and the rich, and the period of the Eastern Han (25-220 AD) was no exception. Of course, the reason for finance is, but it may also be because it was necessary (=military power) to keep a horse.
Balls are produced differently depending on the area. Quartz is produced in what is now called Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces in China, but it is only a small part of the region. I think it was valuable. It was equally valuable on the Korean Peninsula.
In addition, jadeite jadeite produced in Japan cannot be obtained in China or the Korean Peninsula. It is said that the regions that can be harvested in Asia are almost limited to Japan and Myanmar.
Perhaps these ball-centric ones are exchanged for iron Wasn't it done? Or it may have sent a raw mouth (captive or slave).
In addition, from the Japanese side, there are some points that are necessary to obtain iron.
- Negotiation window to get iron
- A position that earns the trust of the other party
- Sometimes it is possible to show off armed forces ... etc.
When things like the above are needed, " farming and battle leaders " in small societies Negotiations will be tougher only with people in the position of ". There is a need to increase unevenness. It is natural to think that Kuni was created in this process.
Under such circumstances, people such as Kibiya and Izumo who can be called Daishucho begin to appear on the Sea of Japan side. Tombs called burial mounds have also been seen since the second generation of AD.
Perhaps the psychological aspects of the "hierarchical relationship," which is one of the significance of the existence of the highland village mentioned in the previous article, influenced the mound grave.
Having "authority" enough to build a grave in a large and high position implies that it has a position to gain the trust of the other party and can mobilize that many people (=armed force). Isn't it?
The need for iron comes out
↓
Iron window required
↓
Position to gain the trust of the other party
Chief authorizes to gain
↓
Dependence on chiefs who get iron ↑↑
↓
Show authority in the grave
↓
To the Kofun period
I think that it was probably like this.
The gold seal of "King of Na gold seal" in 57 AD, the description of 160 raw mouths, and the subsequent tribute written in the "Book of the Later Han" Dongyi in Chinese history may indicate a part of this series of flows. It seems that the foreign policy was based on the influence on the southern part of Korea.
Reference books
"Japan and the Korean Peninsula 2000"
NHK "Japan and the Korean Peninsula 2000" Project 2010
"Paleolithic, Jomon, Yayoi, Kofun period archipelago Genesis" by Takehiko Matsumoto, Shogakukan 2007