Suda Hachiman Shrine Mirror
Encyclopedia
The in Hashimoto, Wakayama
, Japan
is a National Treasure of Japan
. It was cast with 48 Chinese characters around the fifth century. It is an important artifact for the research in Japanese archaeology and Old Japanese
language.
There are a few unclear points, but a tentative translation is "In the eighth month of a gui-wei year, in the reign of the great king, when the prince Wooto was at the Osisaka Palace, Sima, wishing for longevity, send two persons to make this mirror from 200 han of brand-new and fine bronze." The year gui-wei likely corresponds to 443 or 503.
According to one prevailing opinion, the prince Wooto can be identified as the prince Oohodo, a grandson of Emperor Ōjin
and a brother of Oshisaka-no-Oonakatsuhime (Emperor Ingyō's
consort). Another theory holds that Wooto is Ōdo-no-Ookimi (Emperor Keitai
). He may be a great-grandson (or a younger brother) of the prince Oohodo. If the gui-wei year corresponds to 503, Shima is presumed King Muryeong of Baekje.
On the basis of this ancient inscription, Korean scholar Kim Woon-Hoe theorizes a fraternal relationship between Emperor Keitai of Japan
and King Muryeong of Baekje. A mirror was excavated from the tomb of King Muryeong
. It is similar to the mirrors of Emperor Nintoku
and Emperor Keitai
. In the ancient Buyeo kingdom
, the bronze mirror represented the king.
Hashimoto, Wakayama
is a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on January 1, 1955.On March 1, 2006 the town of Kōyaguchi, from Ito District, was merged into Hashimoto....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
is a National Treasure of Japan
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
. It was cast with 48 Chinese characters around the fifth century. It is an important artifact for the research in Japanese archaeology and Old Japanese
Old Japanese
is the oldest attested stage of the Japanese language.This stage in the development of Japanese is still actively studied and debated, and key Old Japanese texts, such as the Man'yōshū, remain obscure in places.-Dating:...
language.
Inscriptions
The mirror saysThere are a few unclear points, but a tentative translation is "In the eighth month of a gui-wei year, in the reign of the great king, when the prince Wooto was at the Osisaka Palace, Sima, wishing for longevity, send two persons to make this mirror from 200 han of brand-new and fine bronze." The year gui-wei likely corresponds to 443 or 503.
According to one prevailing opinion, the prince Wooto can be identified as the prince Oohodo, a grandson of Emperor Ōjin
Emperor Ojin
, also known as Homutawake or , was the 15th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 270 to 310....
and a brother of Oshisaka-no-Oonakatsuhime (Emperor Ingyō's
Emperor Ingyo
was the 19th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 411–453.-Legendary narrative:...
consort). Another theory holds that Wooto is Ōdo-no-Ookimi (Emperor Keitai
Emperor Keitai
, also known as Keitai-okimi, was the 26th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 507–531....
). He may be a great-grandson (or a younger brother) of the prince Oohodo. If the gui-wei year corresponds to 503, Shima is presumed King Muryeong of Baekje.
On the basis of this ancient inscription, Korean scholar Kim Woon-Hoe theorizes a fraternal relationship between Emperor Keitai of Japan
Emperor Keitai
, also known as Keitai-okimi, was the 26th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 507–531....
and King Muryeong of Baekje. A mirror was excavated from the tomb of King Muryeong
Tomb of King Muryeong
The Tomb of King Muryeong, also known as Songsan-ri Tomb No. 7, is the ancient tumulus of King Muryeong, who ruled the Baekje Kingdom from 501 to 523, and his queen...
. It is similar to the mirrors of Emperor Nintoku
Emperor Nintoku
was the 16th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 313–399.-Legendary narrative:...
and Emperor Keitai
Emperor Keitai
, also known as Keitai-okimi, was the 26th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 507–531....
. In the ancient Buyeo kingdom
Buyeo kingdom
Buyeo or Puyŏ , Fuyu in Chinese, was an ancient Korean kingdom located from today's Manchuria to northern North Korea, from around the 2nd century BC to 494. Its remnants were absorbed by the neighboring and brotherhood kingdom of Goguryeo in 494...
, the bronze mirror represented the king.