Dōtaku
Dōtaku ( Japanese 銅 鐸 ) is a clapless, thin-walled and richly decorated bell that was cast from bronze in Japan . It was established over a period of approximately 400 years, between the 2nd century BC. And the 2nd century AD (this corresponds to the end of the Yayoi period ), used almost exclusively for decorative purposes in rituals. The paintings on the bells represent motifs from nature and the animal kingdom, including dragonflies , terrors and spiders . It is believed by historians that dōtaku were used in prayer for plentiful crops and that the animals depicted are the natural enemies of the insects that attacked rice fields.
According to Japanese folklore, dōtaku were used as signal bells in emergencies (for example in watchtowers), especially in the case of an invasion by residents of the Korean Peninsula . If intruders were discovered by guards, the alarm was raised via the dōtaku so that the residents could get themselves and their possessions to safety and warriors could prepare to push back the enemy army.
In Yasu , Shiga Prefecture, there is a Dotaku Museum, which is dedicated to the bells.
history
The Yayoi period (400 BC - 300 AD) was an age of technological progress. In contrast to the Jōmon era , when a large part of the population lived nomadically, the Yayoi attached particular importance to large settlements and rice cultivation. Other achievements of the age include the development of bronze and iron castings to create metal objects such as weapons, mirrors and tools. Among the objects cast from bronze was the dōtaku as one of the most distinctive objects of the age. In recent years, dōtaku have been studied by scientists to find out more about their origins, how they were made , their purpose and the meaning of the inscriptions.
origin
Although a significant artifact of the Yayoi era, the concept of dōtaku did not originate in Japan. Various studies suggest that the bells were based on "earlier, smaller, Korean bells that were used to decorate horses and other domestic animals," Chinese cow bells, or Han Chinese zhong (bells without a clapper that were used in ritual music). However, further studies have shown that the Yayoi did not raise cattle and, although some dōtaku had handles and hangers , they made “dull” or “rattling sounds” when they were moved back and forth. Hence, it is believed that they were not used for this purpose. Bells for ritual purposes were therefore imported from China.
Geographical distribution
A total of over 400 dōtaku were found in Japan , mostly in the western part of Honshū , the Tōkai district, Shikoku , and the Kansai region , especially Kyoto , Nara and Osaka . The "first recorded discovery of a dōtaku " was in 662 AD in a temple in Shiga Prefecture . They are mostly found "buried on isolated slopes", either individually, in pairs or in larger groups together with various bronze mirrors and weapons. Researchers believe that when dōtaku were buried in groups, different clans did so together in one place to reflect the unity of these clans.
Appearance
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The body of the bell has the shape of "a shortened cylinder", the cross-section is oval and has "horizontal bands that are separated in the middle by a vertical row". The top and sides of the bell are adorned in the shape of an arch with an "artistically crafted belt, filled with saw teeth and spirals". The materials used to make dōtaku were imported from both Korea and China; Before the 7th century, no bronze deposits were found in Japan. Bronze was considered more valuable than iron. In addition, traces of lead, a common property of Chinese metals, were found in the bells. The height of the Yayoi bells ranged from 10 to 127 cm. Along with the size differences, the styles of the bells were also subject to great fluctuations. This inconsistent production continued across different regions until a group of bronze smiths met and finally agreed on a standard.
Manufacture of Dotaku
The bells were originally made using two-part sandstone molds, in which "ornaments were engraved" to give the appearance that there were bronze reliefs on the surface. Many of these sandstone models were " found in large numbers in the northern part of Kyushu ," as well as near Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. Over time, dōtaku got bigger and thinner, as they were now molded using clay instead of sandstone. This enabled more detailed work, for example simpler line drawings instead of the smaller and thicker sandstone shapes.
Usage
Other uses of the dōtaku continue to be discussed by scientists, but it is considered certain that these were used for agricultural rituals , this is confirmed by various sources.
Scientists also believe that when not in use, Dotaku were "buried in the ground to take in the earth's life force ," thereby ensuring agricultural goodness for the population. It is also believed that they were used in rain rituals. These assumptions are reinforced by the fact that many dotaku inscriptions adorned "flowing water, waterfowl, fish, boats and agricultural objects". Although it is not known whether dōtaku "were used by the chiefs or the settlements at festivities", it is however certain that these belonged to the entire community rather than to a single person.
There is also curious speculation that dōtaku were used as "a sundial, for making gold, for heating bath water, or in connection with secret Jewish practices."
Similarities with other cultures / images
The design of the dōtaku contains many aspects that are similar to Chinese objects. For example, many bells had "intricate decorations [resembling] contemporary Chinese mirrors." It was not until later in the Yayoi era that "depictions of animals and people in hunting and agriculture" were used. Together with these images, images of the typical high-lying granaries of the Yayoi and the Mochi preparation "could be found.
Depiction of deer
It should be noted that the dōtaku contain many depictions of deer, although the "Yayoi mostly ate wild boars". According to “ Harima Fudoki ”, a series of traditions from the Nara period (710 - 793 AD), there was “a magical ritual in which seeds were soaked in deer blood to accelerate the fertilization of the rice plants” It was believed that "the deer's life forces accelerate the growth of rice," which would explain why the Forest Spirit character in Princess Mononoke is a deer with a human face.
Speculation About Imaging
Various studies have been carried out on whether or not the images on a dōtaku have a significant meaning. According to a researcher named Oba, each image contains a hidden pictogram that can be deciphered by phonetic reading. For example, a picture of a man killing a deer can be read as “ iru ka ” ( killing a deer), but combined to “Iruka” the picture can represent Soga no Iruka , a reference to the Soga dynasty . Through further readings, Oba discovered that the drawings contained "references to people, places and events in the early history of Japan" as well as "information on building shapes, hunting habits and other aspects of daily life" "which should possibly be preserved for future generations.
However, according to other scientists, the images presented are unlikely to have hidden meanings, it is more likely that the images are just images.
Pop Culture
The deer, often shown on the surface of the dōtaku , is featured in the film Princess Mononoke (directed by Hayao Miyazaki ). In the film, Forest Spirit is the "God of life and death" and is represented by a large deer with a human face.
The Pokémon Bronzong was designed after a dōtaku.
See also
- Bonshō , bell in Buddhist monasteries in Japan
Web links
- Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan , Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Individual evidence
- ↑ city.yasu.lg.jp ( Memento of the original from September 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ A b Penelope Mason: History of Japanese Art . 2nd Edition. S. 22-27 .
- ↑ a b c d e Two dōtaku (ritual bells). The British Museum, accessed January 29, 2017 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History - Dōtaku (Bronze Bell). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed September 14, 2015 .
- ^ A b Keiji Imamura: Prehistoric Japan: New Perspectives on Insular East Asia . S. 170-177 .
- ↑ Fred Kleiner: Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Global History . S. 477 .
- ↑ a b c Japan, Late Yayoi Period / Dotaku / 100-200. www.davidrumsey.com, accessed September 14, 2015 .
- ^ Koji Mizoguchi: The Archeology of Japan: From the Earliest Rice Farming Villages to the Rise of the State . S. 180-195 .
- ↑ The Shimane Board of Education: 荒 神 谷 遺跡 発 掘 調査 概 報 2 銅 鐸 ・ 銅 矛 出 土地. In: Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan. 1986, accessed September 1, 2016 .
- ↑ a b History - Yayoi Period. Retrieved September 14, 2015 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Dotaku (Ritual Bronze Bells) and the Yayoi Period | 京都 国立 博物館 | Kyoto National Museum. www.kyohaku.go.jp, accessed September 14, 2015 .
- ^ A b John Whitney Hall: The Cambridge History of Japan . tape 1 , p. 332-334 .
- ^ A b c d Roy Andrew Miller: Review . In: Journal of Japanese Studies . tape 1 , no. 2 , April 1, 1975, pp. 485-506 , doi : 10.2307 / 132139 , JSTOR : 132139 .
