Classification And Studies On Yayoi Period's Bronze Wares From Kyushu District In Japan

Human history could be divided into the Stone Age,the Bronze Age and the Iron Age according to the texture of the tools.As for Japan,its Iron Age followed the Stone Age directly.However,the materials of archaeological excavation show that a certain Bronze Age did happen in Japanese history,which is named as Yayoi Period in Japanese archaeology.The Japanese archaeologists.also concern about the origins of the bronze wares in Yayoi Period,and many scholars think that the Japanese bronze culture was influenced by those in Northern Steppe.The thesis collects the bronze weapons like sword,spear,dagger-axe and bronze wares like bronze mirror,bronze bracelet according to the archaeological excavations and historical documents,and classifies their types with the basic theories and methods of archaeology.Then divides the periods and judges the ages of the bronze wares in Yayoi Period's Kyushu District on the basis of related academic achivements about stone implement,pottery,and other implements.So far,the bronze wares in Kyushu District could be divided into three periods,namely early Yayoi Period(from 800 BC to 400 BC),interim Yayoi Period(from 400 BC to 50 AD)and later Yayoi Period(from 50 AD to 350 AD).At last,the thesis analyzes the sacrificing phenomenon and the breaking mirror phenomenon with archaeological-cultural factors.The sacrificing phenomenon of Japanese bronze wares has already been emphasized by the Japanese scholars,and most of them think that bronze Duo as a type of special bronze ware in Japan could certainly be used in sacrifice.While bronze weapons like sword or spear from abroad were first used as practical tools and then turned to sacrificing tools.Bronze mirror in the later stage of Yayoi Period combined the functions of bronze weapon and bronze Duo became the main tool of sacrifice.Breaking mirror was a special phenomenon that in Yayoi Period it had became a certain social custom,which is of great importance in Japanese bronze wares studies.In conclusion,bronze wares were related with Japanese society since its introduction to Japan,and it impacted the Japanese social organization and life deeply.The above-mentioned contents deserve further studying.