Todaijiyama Sword
Encyclopedia
Tōdaijiyama Sword, also known as Tōdaijiyama Kofun Iron Sword (東大寺山古墳鉄剣 Tōdaijiyama Kofun Tekken) in Japan is an ancient iron sword excavated in Tōdaijiyama kofun
in Nara Prefecture
, Japan
. The sword was forged in China in the 2nd century and the oldest inscribed iron sword excavated in Japan. Its inscription is the important source of the ancient diplomatic relations between China and Japan and its domestic politics.
In English;
, corresponding between 184 and 189. In the Chinese historical book Records of Wei, which is part of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Wa (Japan)
had a large civil war
in the period. It is assumed that the sword was bestowed by Emperor Ling on a king of Wa, though its detail is not yet unknown. Then the sword was passed to a local ruling family in the region, who constructed the Tōdaijiyama Kofun in the late 4th century.
Kofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
in Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
, 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...
. The sword was forged in China in the 2nd century and the oldest inscribed iron sword excavated in Japan. Its inscription is the important source of the ancient diplomatic relations between China and Japan and its domestic politics.
Inscription
The original Chinese text is;- 中平□□ 五月丙午 造作支刀 百練清剛 上応星宿 □□□□
In English;
- This ornate (?) sword was manufactured in an auspicious day of the fifth month in the ... Zhongping era. the metal from which it has been wrought has been refined may times; it is pure ... [The fortune of the one who wears it] will accord with the stars ...
Interpretation
The Zhongping era is one of the Chinese traditional era name used by Emperor Ling of HanEmperor Ling of Han
Emperor Ling of Han, trad. ch. 漢靈帝;, sim. ch. 汉灵帝, py. hàn líng dì, wg. Han Ling-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out during Emperor Ling's reign.Emperor Ling's reign saw yet another repetition of...
, corresponding between 184 and 189. In the Chinese historical book Records of Wei, which is part of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Wa (Japan)
Wa (Japan)
Japanese is the oldest recorded name of Japan. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese scribes regularly wrote Wa or Yamato "Japan" with the Chinese character 倭 until the 8th century, when the Japanese found fault with it, replacing it with 和 "harmony, peace, balance".- Historical references :The earliest...
had a large civil war
Civil war of Wa
The Civil war of Wa or was a period of disturbances and warfare in ancient Japan during the late Yayoi period . It is the oldest war in Japan that has been documented in writing. Peace was restored around 180, when the shaman queen Himiko of Yamataikoku took control of the region.-Chinese...
in the period. It is assumed that the sword was bestowed by Emperor Ling on a king of Wa, though its detail is not yet unknown. Then the sword was passed to a local ruling family in the region, who constructed the Tōdaijiyama Kofun in the late 4th century.
See also
- Seven-Branched SwordSeven-Branched SwordThe Seven-Branched Sword , also known as the Seven-Pronged Sword, the Seven-Branched Knife, the Seven-Pronged Spear, Nanatsusaya no Tachi in Nihon shoki, Chiljido in Korea is a 74.9 cm long iron sword with six branch-like protrusions along the central blade originally made in Baekje Korea,...
- Inariyama SwordInariyama SwordThe iron or was excavated at the Inariyama Kofun in 1968. Inariyama Kofun is located in Saitama Prefecture. In 1978, X-ray analysis revealed a gold-inlaid inscription that comprises more than 115 Chinese characters. This sword was described as the discovery of the century for the study of...
- Eta Funayama SwordEta Funayama Swordin Japan is a 5th century ancient iron sword excavated from the Eta Funayama kofun in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan in 1873. The inscription on the blade shows the era of Emperor Yūryaku in the 5th century...
- Inaridai SwordInaridai SwordInaridai Sword, also known as Inaridai No. 1 Kofun tumulus Iron Sword in Japan is an ancient iron sword excavated in Inaridai No. 1 Kofun tumulus in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The sword was probably forged in Kinai region in the 5th century and buried with the deceased person in the late of the...
External links
- Sword from Todaijiyama Tumulus with Inscription, Tokyo National Museum