Bamboo

It is believed that bronze and iron were both brought to Japan from Korea or China during the Yayoi period. They were most likely introduced to the country through South Korea, into the the southern island of Kyushu which is located closest to the mainland of Asia.

The Yayoi Period

The Yayoi period first began to take shape around 300BC, following the lengthy Jomon period. It is marked by the introduction of foreign influences in the country. Ending in the middle of the third century before common era, it is also the time when rice was commonly farmed in Japan.

Iron During the Yayoi Period

While iron was typically used by the lower classes to craft implements for farming (such as a knife used to reap) and other types of labour, bronze was reserved for special products, the elite and wealthy. It is believed that before the 1^st century, ore was imported from Korea. After, the materials and technology to produce iron were available in Japan.

Bronze During the Yayoi Period

Bronze was typically used to make ceremonious bells and mirrors particularly for burial. Bronze weapons crafted out of bronze include spearheads, that were projectile weapons, and double-edged swords, their design and shape similar to those found in Korea and China. A halberd, a weapon that is a long pole with some type of blade to slash or stab with at the end, was also produced.

Many of these ancient weapons and tools can be found in museums across Japan.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 10th, 2006 at 4:34 am and is filed under Weapons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.