【Feature Exhibition 1】Ancient Swords Aug. 20, 2019 (Tue) ~ Oct. 20, 2019(Sun)

The ancient battles staged in the Kyushu area and the history of swords

The history of war in Japan started with rice cultivation methods exported from the Chinese continent in the Yayoi Period. As agriculture became more popular and popular, the fiercer the competition became over land and water. The first battle tool that emerged was made of stone. Leaders of agricultural communes equipped themselves with sharp daggers and arrows which were similar to the ones used in the Korean peninsula.

Metal ware spread throughout the country over hundreds of years.

Bronze weapons such as swords emerged around the 3rd century BC and iron swords appeared during 2nd -1st century BC. Even during the era when ironware was mainly used, bronze or wooden items shaped like weapons were used as festive implements.

Thus, arms in ancient times had various usages.

In the Kofun Period, the demand for iron weapons increased, fueled by the rapidly changing social situation in East Asia. This was when a large decorative sword, known as the “Soshoku no Tachi”, which symbolized the authority of the leaders of that period, emerged. The sword was created by making full use of the art techniques of that time.

This exhibition introduces battles that happened in the northern Kyushu area and a history of swords, through the exhibition of excavated artifacts from the Yayoi to the Kofun period.