Collaborative Research
Study of Arms and Armor in Middle–Period Tumuli: An Initial Research Based on Artifacts from the Marozuka Tomb
| Type of Research | 個別共同研究 |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Study of Arms and Armor in Middle–Period Tumuli: An Initial Research Based on Artifacts from the Marozuka Tomb |
| Head of the Research Team | SUGIYAMA Shinsaku |
| Research Period | 2004–2007 |
| Research Team |
|
| Purpose | A collection of important cultural properties excavated from the Marozuka Tomb, Kumamoto and owned by NMJH, is comprised of a large collection of armor which remains in good condition, and holds an important position in the research of arms and armor from the mid–Kofun Period. Until recently we were not able release detailed data due to the difficulty of obtaining the items, but through the collaboration of researchers in Kyushu from where the materials were excavated, it finally became possible to collect, report and publish material data. Therefore, we will organize a project with local researchers. We will re–evaluate the arms and armor from the mid–Kofun Period based on new viewpoints gleaned from the materials from Marozuka Tomb, in order to reconstruct the historical meaning of arms and armor of that period, and seek to make the data on the materials public as early as possible. |
2007
Progress
| (1) Detailed surveys and photographing of materials from Marozuka Tomb |
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| Date: April 16 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
| (2) 1st workshop, detailed surveys and photographing of materials from Marozuka Tomb |
| Date: May 24–29 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
| (3) 2nd workshop, detailed surveys and photographing of materials from Marozuka Tomb |
| Date: July 21–23 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
| (4) Consideration of research reports, detailed surveys and photographing of materials from Marozuka Tomb |
| Date: August 2–6 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
| (5) Reporting of the research results, and related materials research in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto |
Date: February 16–18 Reporting of the research results Date: February 16
Discussion |
Result
In this year, the main activities were to sum up the research results, and to make them public.
We spent most of the time on writing and editing the research reports. Each member of cooperative research, according to their special areas of interest, exchanged opinions and had thorough discussions, based on their notes of observations, and made great efforts towards the completion of the report with a high degree of perfection. We have particularly made a large contribution towards the research of arms and armor by clarifying the details of metalurgical techniques in the Kofun Period to some extent, which could only be achieved through study of the materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb, as they are in good condition. We tried various ways to present the results in a clear and understandable fashion, by working on illustrations and diagrams. We are trying to present a report, which will become the standard for research on the arms and armor of the middle Kofun Period. As we are planning to publish it in the following year, we are currently working on its final editing.
Publishing of the reports is one way we presented the research results. We also organized a presentation to present the research results widely in understandable manner, at Kumamoto University, which is located close to Marozuka Tomb. After introducing the materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb, we discussed techniques of metal works and manufacturing of arms and armor in the Kofun Period, and the historical significance of the Tomb. The participants were researchers of archaeology and ordinary citizens, who were not only from Kumamoto, but from all over Kyushu. This presentation became an occasion for introducing the materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb for the first time in decades, but in the future, the real materials should be continually displayed and open to public.
The cooperative research period ends this year. As mentioned above, we are expecting the publishing of research reports in the next year. As for opening the materials owned by the NMJH to the public, we are planning for displays of materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb. We hope that the results of this research will mark an important step for activities in the future.
2006
Progress
| (1) Related materials research on Otomasu, Hitoyoshi–shi |
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Date: April 14 |
| (2)1st workshop and survey of related materials owned by Tokyo National Museum |
Date: May 24–30 Workshop Date: May 27
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| (3) Materials research on "shichikan" owned by the Osaka Castle |
| Date: July 21–23 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
(4) Consideration of research reports, detailed surveys and photographing of materials from Marozuka Tomb |
Date: July 29–August 8 Interact workshop Date: August 5
Discussion |
| (5) Consideration of materials of Marozuka Tomb |
Date: August 19 and 20 |
| (6) Interactive workshop |
Date: September 23
Discussion |
| (7) 2nd workshop and survey of related materials owned by the Kyoto University Museum |
| Date: November 8–10 Venue: Kyoto University Museum |
| (8) Materials research owned by the Osaka Castle |
| Date: December 2 and 3 Venue: Osaka Castle |
| (9) Consideration of materials from Marozuka Tomb |
| Date: February 16 and 17 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
Result
This year, we mainly organized research around surveys of similar cases.
Materials research on materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb
We worked on completing the measurement surveys which were nearly completed in the previous year, and focused on scientific research such as X–ray fluorescence analysis and metallographic analysis. We also tried to gather information on the Kofun excavations by surveying the documents owned by Hitoyoshi City regarding Shigetaka Otomasu, who had compiled documents on materials from Marozuka Tomb at the earliest stage when the materials were discovered.
Research on materials excavated from Shichikan Tomb.
The materials (discovered in 1913) excavated from Shichikan Tomb are owned by Osaka Castle, and by Kyoto University. In order to make a comprehensive investigation, we thoroughly investigated both material collections. In survey at Kyoto University, we requested assistance from the researchers of arms and armor in the Kofun period, held discussions about the arms and armor, and managed to gain a broader viewpoint on the research of these materials. We believe that the attendance of the graduate students in this cooperative research contributed towards the cultivation of researchers.
Related materials research.
We conducted research on related materials owned by the Tokyo National Museum, such as materials excavated from Etafunayama Tomb. In China, we conducted research on related materials during the Qin, Han, Xianbei, San–Yan, and Goguryeo periods, in Zhongyuan District and Northeast region. In order to study the origin of iron arms and armor in East Asia, we conducted research on materials of iron arms and armor from the Han Dynasty until the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms. In Beijing; Xian, Shaanxi; Shenyang and Chaoyang, Liaoning, we conducted research on materials excavated from the Changan Castle in the Han period, and materials from the San–Yang period excavated from Chaoyang in Liaoning. In Shenyang, we organized an interactive workshop.
Interactive research between Japan, Korea and China
In this research, our cooperative research team not only conducted research on materials from their institutes, but also organized workshops in order to create chances for discussions based on the materials. In the previous year's workshop during research in Korea, researchers from various institutes took part in the research, and we made progress in finding new outlooks for research in Japan and Korea on the arms and armor of the 5th century. In this year, during our research in China, we organized an interactive research meeting together with the Institute of cultural relics and archaeology of Liaoning Province. With the attendance of 20 researchers from museums and institutes of Liaoning Province, we deepened our investigations on iron materials in East Asia, focusing on 4–5th century arms and armor of the San–Yen and the Goguryeo periods.
We assembled the materials from both Japan and China and exchanged information about the present state of research, had deep discussions concerning interactive regional relationships through these materials, and decided to share the viewpoints and results of the research. When Tian Likun, the deputy director of the Institute of cultural relics and archaeology of Liaoning Province, and the speaker at the workshop visited NMJH, we organized an interactive workshop. We decided to increase the opportunities for having interactive discussions, from home and abroad, extending beyond the boundaries of cooperative research.
2005
Progress
| (1)1st workshop and materials research |
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Date: May 20–22 Discussion over this year's plans, measurement surveys on armor excavated from Marozuka Tomb, which is the core of this research. |
| (2)2nd workshop and materials research |
Date: August 4–8 Survey and comparative studuies of Japanese–style armor excavated from South Korea. Survey:
Workshop:
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| (3) Related materials research |
Date: October 9 Venue: Osaka Museum of History |
| (4) Materials research |
Date: December 12–16 |
| (5)Related materials research |
Date: February 18 Comparative study on the Sankakuita kawatoji shokakutsuki helmet from the Seison Maeda collection owned by NMJH |
| (6) 3rd workshop |
Date: March 4–6 Measurement survey of armor excavated from Marozuka Tomb, meetings on report making. |
| (7) Materials research |
Date: March 13–17 Measurement survey of armor excavated from Marozuka Tomb |
Result
In this cooperative research project, based on a thorough research of armor which was excavated from Marozuka Tomb and remains in good condition, we deduced the techniques when the armor were made and compared this with the techniques for other armor from other parts of Japan. In detail, we made measurement diagrams of armor excavated from the Marozuka Tomb, on more and various aspects than that of conventional research methods, and have began a detailed consideration of the manufacturing techniques. We believe that the presentation of viewpoints for observation and analysis will form the standard for further research. Also, the reconsideration of materials from such viewpoints may largely influence the historical interpretations of the Asian world.
In this year, we surveyed Japanese–style armor in Korea, which is a related material. We surveyed Japanese–style armor excavated from Korea, whose production sites are disputed in the academic world now, and by studying it from highly detailed points of manufacturing techniques during the middle Kofun Period which we had clarified through measurement research on the armor excavated from Marozuka Tomb. The comparative studies on the various historical interpretations have been discussed deeply in symposiums and many other meetings. In this materials centered research, we aimed not only for a historical interpretation as a conclusion, but also in order to share visions with the Koreans and have better mutual understanding on the material level.
We studied the materials in the following way –– researchers from Japan and Korea observed each piece of material together, and compared the observations with each other. Also in the workshop, we aimed to create chances for discussions, which may be mentioned as a new standard for East Asia in the future, and the researchers Hashimoto and Furuya gave presentations focused on the study of materials, mentioned above.
From Korea, researchers from many institutes attended, and considered a new vision for research in Japan and Korea of the arms and armor of the 5th century.
This year nearly brings us to the end of our research on materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb, the basic materials of this cooperative research, and we would like to focus on new historical images based on new vision.
We are planning to make the results public in a variety of ways, such as publishing research reports, and creating displays. Based on these materials, we would like to establish new standards for conducting this type of research, which would be applicable towards doing basic research and we are planning to develop our research plans after next year.
2004
Progress
| (1) 1st workshop and survey |
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Date: May 21–25 Explanation and discussion on research plans, begin observation and measurement survey of armor excavated from the Marozuka Tomb. |
| (2) 2nd workshop and survey |
Date: September 23–26 Measurement survey of materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb. |
| (3) Survey on related armor in Kanto |
Date: November Performed by each cooperative research member. |
| (4) 3rd workshop and survey |
Date: December 8–12 We surveyed arms and armor preserved in six facilities in Fukuoka Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture, and on the kofun groups located in two towns. |
| (5) 4th workshop and survey |
Date: February 10–14 Research Presentation, working out next year's plan, and the measurement survey of materials excavated from Marozuka Tomb. |
Result
In this cooperative research, based on thorough research of armor which ws excavated from Marozuka Tomb and remains in good condition, we thought about the techniques used for making armor, deduced the techniques, and compare the techniques with other armor from other parts of Japan. In the yearlong research, we made measurement diagrams of armor excavated from Marozuka Tomb in ways more various than shown by the conventional research, and added detailed notes about manufacturing techniques.
We gained new knowledge exceeding conventional results. This being in a field survey of major armor and their accouterments, we discovered materials which were specially processed in manufacturing, or were specially processed before burial.
For further research, we acknowledged the necessity to resurvey the armor excavated in Korea and conduct comparative research, based on our observations. Thus, we began the research of arms and armor, introducing new viewpoints.
In the future, the detailed data will be presented on the research results, which will be published in 2007, and we are planning organize an international meeting of research to present the latest research results. We are considering opening up the results to the public through displays, and made concrete plans to this effect.
When organizing the research, we had the graduate students attend as cooperators, as a way for us to cultivate researchers for the future.
