Description of the Chikushi District of more than 1300 years ago
This year, 2020, marks the 1300th anniversary of the "Nihon-Shoki", Chronicles of Japan, which was compiled in 720. The "Nihon-Shoki" is a historical document which describes Japanese history from the mythological period to the 7th century, when Emperor Jitou was in power. It is inscribed with a lot of historical incidents happening in Kyushu, especially in the northern Kyushu area.
In the latter part of the volume, the "Nihon-Shoki" describes various incidents that happened from the 6th century to the 7th century, a period when Japan was established as a centralized state in a turbulent time.
The incidents include a riot that happened in the Korean peninsula, and an external war staged in the Chinese continent. In 527 CE, a local ruling family of the Kyushu area rebelled against the Yamato court, which was the Japanese government back then. In 536 CE, the Japanese government constructed a storage house called the Nanotsu no Miyake, in the Hakata bayside area, to store grain gathered from various states in Japan. When the Battle of Baekgang occurred in 663, it had a significant influence on the Chikushi district, because of the district’s proximity to the Chinese continent.
Due to this, we can find various descriptions of the Chikushi district in the “Nihon Shoki”, especially during the turbulent period.
On the other hand, the remains of a big building, which is assumed to be the storage house mentioned in the chronicle, was found in a recent research excavation.
To commemorate the year of its anniversary, this exhibition introduces the Chikushi district in the period of the “Nihonshoki,” by displaying articles and excavated items.