Japanese History Digest

Yayoi period

Yayoi period

The Yayoi period, which dates from roughly the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD, marked the full-scale establishment of agricultural society in the Japanese archipelago. The period's name comes from the discovery of distinctive pottery in Yayoi-cho, Hongo, Tokyo. The most notable feature of the Yayoi period is the introduction and spread of paddy rice cultivation. Rice cultivation is believed to have originated in the Yangtze River basin in China and spread to northern Kyushu via the southern Korean Peninsula. After establishing itself in Kyushu, it spread throughout Western Japan and eventually to the Kanto and Tohoku regions. The hot and humid climate of the Japanese archipelago was ideal for rice cultivation, and people converted lowlands and marshes into paddy fields and began working together to farm. As agriculture developed, settlements gradually expanded in size, leading to greater political integration within each region. Leaders were needed to maintain paddy fields and manage harvests, and a hierarchical society centered around a chieftain emerged. This led to disparities between the rich and poor and conflicts over land and water, leading to the emergence of moated settlements and settlements with defensive structures across the country. Powerful settlements subjugated surrounding villages to form small nations (kuni), and their existence eventually came to be recorded as "Wa" in Chinese historical texts such as the Book of Han and the Book of Later Han. At the end of the Yayoi period, larger-scale integration also occurred, such as the Yamataikoku, which appears in the Wei Zhi Wajinden.

A cultural characteristic of the Yayoi period is the use of Yayoi pottery. Compared to Jomon pottery, Yayoi pottery is thinner, reddish, and more regularly shaped. Metal tools such as bronze and iron also began to be used. Bronze was primarily used for rituals, while iron was used as agricultural tools and weapons for practical purposes. By the late Yayoi period, bronze bells, bronze swords, and iron agricultural tools and weapons became widespread, improving social productivity and military power.

Religious views and rituals also changed. While animism, a belief in the gods of nature, continued, as agricultural society developed, importance was placed on rituals and festivals praying for good harvests. Burial methods also changed, and the tombs of chiefs and influential people began to be distinguished from those of the general public in terms of size and grave goods. This made the stratification of society even more evident.

 

Timeline of the Yayoi period

Around the 1st century	The Geography section of the Book of Han records that the Wa people were divided into over 100 states, some of which paid tribute to the Han, suggesting that Wa was divided into numerous small states.
57	According to the Eastern Barbarians section of the Book of Later Han, the King of Wa paid tribute to the Later Han and was awarded a gold seal inscribed with "King of Wa in Han."
107	The Eastern Barbarians section of the Book of Later Han records that King Shuisheng of Wa and his men presented 160 live people to the Later Han, suggesting that diplomatic relations between Wa and China continued at this time.
Around the second half of the 2nd century	Several Chinese historical documents refer to this period as the "Great War in Wa," and it is believed that a major conflict occurred within Wa.
Late 2nd century to early 3rd century	According to the Wei Zhi's Wajinden, after the Great War in Wa, over 30 small states jointly established a queen named Himiko and formed a coalition centered on Yamataikoku.
Around 239	The Wei Zhi's Wajinden records that Himiko sent Nashume and others to Wei and was invested with the title "King of Wa Pro-Wei."
Mid-3rd century	According to the Wei Zhi's Wajinden, Himiko died in the midst of a conflict with the Kunukoku. A male king was initially installed, but the conflict did not subside, and Queen Iyo was later installed.
Around 266	It is recorded that Iyo paid tribute to Wei (Western Jin), suggesting that the queen's government continued to have ties with the Chinese dynasty.

Facilities where you can learn about the Yayoi period

Yoshinogari Historical Park (Yoshinogari-chō, Saga Prefecture)
http://www.yoshinogari.jp/

Sannai-Maruyama Site（Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture）
http://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/

Shizuoka City Toro Museum (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
http://www.shizuoka-toromuseum.jp/

Fukuoka City Museum (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/

Kanenokuma Ruins Exhibition Hall (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
https://yokanavi.com/spot/26807/

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