List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
File:Koujindani Remains 03.JPG spears and dōtaku ritual bells excavated at the Kōjindani Site in Hikawa, Shimane]]
The term "National Treasure" has been used in Japan to denote cultural properties since 1897.{{cite book
|last= Coaldrake
|first= William Howard
|title= Architecture and authority in Japan
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bCLNX8_a4WQC&q=Law+for+the+Preservation+of+Ancient+Shrines+and+Temples&pg=PA248
|orig-year= 1996
|year= 2002
|publisher= Routledge
|location= London, New York
|isbn= 0-415-05754-X
|page= 248
|access-date= November 15, 2020
|archive-date= May 7, 2021
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210507121725/https://books.google.com/books?id=bCLNX8_a4WQC&q=Law+for+the+Preservation+of+Ancient+Shrines+and+Temples&pg=PA248
|url-status= live
}}
The definition and the criteria have changed since the introduction of the term. These archaeological materials adhere to the current definition, and have been designated national treasures since the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties came into effect on June 9, 1951. The items are selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology based on their "especially high historical or artistic value".{{cite web
|title = Cultural Properties for Future Generations
|url = http://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/shuppanbutsu/bunkazai_pamphlet/pdf/pamphlet_en_03_ver05.pdf
|publisher = Agency for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Properties Department
|location = Tokyo, Japan
|date = March 2017
|access-date = 2017-12-17
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171216231044/http://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/shuppanbutsu/bunkazai_pamphlet/pdf/pamphlet_en_03_ver05.pdf
|archive-date = 2017-12-16
|url-status = dead
}} The list presents 51 materials or sets of materials from ancient to feudal Japan, spanning a period from about 4,500 BC to 1361 AD. The actual number of items is more than 51 because groups of related objects have been combined into single entries. Most of the items have been excavated from tombs, kofun, sutra mounds or other archaeological sites. The materials are
housed in museums (33), temples (9), shrines (8) and a university (1) in 27 cities of Japan. The Tokyo National Museum houses the greatest number of archaeological national treasures, with 7 of the 51.{{Cite web
| publisher = Agency for Cultural Affairs
| script-title = ja:国指定文化財 データベース
| trans-title = Database of National Cultural Properties
| access-date = 2009-04-16
| date = 2008-11-01
| url = http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index.asp
| language = ja
| archive-date = March 30, 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090330140022/http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index.asp
| url-status = live
}}
The Japanese Paleolithic marks the beginning of human habitation in Japan.{{Harvnb|Cremin|2007|p=264}} It is generally accepted that human settlement did not occur before 38,000 BC, although some sources suggest the date to be as early as 50,000 BC.{{cite web
| url = http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/palaeol.html
| title = Japanese Palaeolithic Period
| first = Charles T.
| last = Keally
| date = 2009-10-13
| work = Japanese Archaeology
| publisher = Charles T. Keally
| access-date = 2010-03-19
| archive-date = August 26, 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090826235250/http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/palaeol.html
| url-status = dead
}} Archaeological artifacts from the Paleolithic era consist of stone tools of various types, indicative of a hunter-gatherer society.{{Harvnb|Mizoguchi|2002|p=56}}{{Harvnb|Mason|Caiger|1997|p=20}} A set of 1965 such tools has been designated as the oldest National Treasure. From about 14,000 to 8,000 BC, the society gradually transformed to one characterized by the creation of pottery used for storage, cooking, bone burial and possibly ceremonial purposes.{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|pp=64–71}} People continued to subsist on hunting, fishing and gathering, but evidence points to a gradual decrease in the nomadic lifestyle.{{cite web
| url = http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/jomon.html
| title = Jomon Culture
| first = Charles T.
| last = Keally
| date = 2009-10-13
| work = Japanese Archaeology
| publisher = Charles T. Keally
| access-date = 2010-03-19
| archive-date = March 1, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100301160421/http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/jomon.html
| url-status = live
}}{{Harvnb|Kleiner|2008|p=207}}{{cite web
|url = http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/early.htm
|title = Early Jomon
|date = 2009-10-13
|publisher = Niigata Prefectural Museum of History
|access-date = 2010-03-19
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120622185953/http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/early.htm
|archive-date = 2012-06-22
}}{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|p=60}}{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|p=64}} Potsherds of unornamented pottery from the oldest archaeological sites constitute some of the world's oldest pottery.{{Harvnb|Kleiner|2008|p=208}} These are followed by linear-relief, punctated and nail-impressed pottery types. The first cord-marked pottery dates to 8,000 BC.{{cite web
|url = http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/incipient.htm
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020817022928/http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/incipient.htm
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 2002-08-17
|title = Incipient Jomon
|date = 2009-10-13
|publisher = Niigata Prefectural Museum of History
|access-date = 2010-03-19
}} Cord-marked pottery required a technique of pressing twisted cords into the clay, or by rolling cord-wrapped sticks across the clay. The Japanese definition for the period of prehistory characterized by the use of pottery is {{nihongo||縄文|Jōmon|lit. cord-patterned}} and refers to the entire period (c. 10,500 to 300 BC).{{cite web
|url = http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/earliest.htm
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010429093207/http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/earliest.htm
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 2001-04-29
|title = Earliest Jomon
|date = 2009-10-13
|publisher = Niigata Prefectural Museum of History
|access-date = 2010-03-19
}} Pottery techniques reached their apogee during the Middle Jōmon period with the emergence of fire-flame pottery created by sculpting and carving coils of clay applied to vessel rims, resulting in a rugged appearance.{{Harvnb|Habu|2004|p=203}}{{cite web
|url = http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/middlejomon.htm
|title = Middle Jomon
|date = 2009-10-13
|publisher = Niigata Prefectural Museum of History
|access-date = 2010-03-19
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090525100233/http://www.nbz.or.jp/eng/middlejomon.htm
|archive-date = 2009-05-25
}}{{Harvnb|Habu|2004|p=3}} A set of 57 items of fire-flame pottery, dating to around 4,500 BC, has been designated as National Treasure. Archaeologists consider that such pottery may have had a symbolic meaning or was used ceremonially. Dogū—small clay figurines depicting humans and animals—can be dated to the earliest Jōmon period but their prevalence increased dramatically in the middle Jōmon.{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|p=70}} Many of these depict women with exaggerated breasts and enlarged buttocks, considered to be a fertility symbol.{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|p=522}}{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|p=330}}{{Harvnb|Kipfer|2000|p=160}} Five dogū from 3000 to 1000 BC have been designated as National Treasures.
The ensuing Yayoi period is characterized by great technological advances such as wet-rice agriculture or bronze and iron casting, which were introduced from the mainland.{{Harvnb|Noma|2003|pp=13–14}}{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|pp=80–107}} Iron knives and axes, followed by bronze swords, spears and mirrors, were brought to Japan from Korea and China.{{cite web
| url = http://www.yamasa.org/history/english/yayoi_jidai.html
| title = Yayoi Culture
| publisher = Yamasa Institute
| last = Murphy
| first = Declan
| access-date = 2010-03-19
| archive-date = March 3, 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203818/http://www.yamasa.org/history/english/yayoi_jidai.html
| url-status = live
}} Later all of these were produced locally.{{cite web
| url = http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/yayoi.html
| title = Yayoi Culture
| first = Charles T.
| last = Keally
| date = 2006-06-03
| work = Japanese Archaeology
| publisher = Charles T. Keally
| access-date = 2010-03-19
| archive-date = March 3, 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165607/http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/yayoi.html
| url-status = live
}} The primary artistic artifacts, with the exception of Yayoi pottery, are bronze weapons, such as swords, halberds and dōtaku, ritual bells. The bells were often discovered in groups on a hillside buried with the weapons. They are {{convert|0.2|to|1.2|m|abbr=on}} tall and often decorated with geometric designs such as horizontal bands, flowing water patterns or spirals.{{Harvnb|Frédéric|2005|pp=160–161}} A few bells feature the earliest Japanese depiction of people and animals.{{Harvnb|Kleiner|2008|p=209}} In addition ornamental jewels were found. The weapons that have been excavated are flat and thin, suggesting a symbolic use. Due to rusting, few iron objects have survived from this period. Burial mounds in square, and later round, enclosures were common in the Yayoi period. The starting date of the Kofun period (c. 250–300 AD) is defined by the appearance of large-scale keyhole-shaped kofun mound tombs, thought to mark imperial burials.{{cite web
| url = http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/kofun.html
| title = Kofun Culture
| first = Charles T.
| last = Keally
| date = 2009-04-27
| work = Japanese Archaeology
| publisher = Charles T. Keally
| access-date = 2010-03-19
| archive-date = March 3, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100303022102/http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/kofun.html
| url-status = live
}} Typical burial goods include mirrors, beads, Sue ware, weapons and later horse gear. One of the most well-known tombs, whose content of warrior-related items has been designated as National Treasure, is the late 6th century Fujinoki Tomb. Mirrors, swords and curved jewels, which constitute the Imperial Regalia of Japan, appear as early as the middle Yayoi period, and are abundant in Kofun period tombs. Characteristic of most kofun are haniwa clay terra cotta figures whose origin and purpose is unknown. A haniwa of an armoured man has been designated as National Treasure; and a 1st-century gold seal, designated a National Treasure, shows one of the earliest mentions of Japan or Wa.
Buddhism arrived in Japan in the mid–6th century Asuka period, and was officially adopted in the wake of the Battle of Shigisan in 587, after which Buddhist temples began to be constructed.{{Harvnb|Sansom|Sansom|1958|p=49}} The new religion and customs fundamentally transformed Japanese society and the arts.{{Harvnb|Farris|1998|p=234}} Funerary traditions such as cremation and the practice of placing epitaphs in graves were imported from China and Korea. Following the treatment of Buddhist relics, the cremated remains in a glass container were wrapped in a cloth and placed in an outer container. Epitaphs, which recorded the lives of the deceased on silver or bronze rectangular strips, were particularly popular from the latter half of the 7th to the end of the 8th century (late Asuka and Nara period). Five epitaphs and a number of cinerary urns and reliquaries containing bones have been designated as National Treasures.{{cite web
| url = http://www.asukanet.gr.jp/asukahome/ASUKA2/ASUKAKOFUN/bosi.html
| title = Tomb Inscriptions
| first = Yasuhito
| last = Kakiya
| year = 1995
| work = Japanese Archaeology
| publisher = Asuka Historical Museum
| access-date = 2010-04-23
| archive-date = February 27, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100227083742/http://www.asukanet.gr.jp/asukahome/ASUKA2/ASUKAKOFUN/bosi.html
| url-status = live
}} Other archaeological National Treasures from the Buddhist era include ritual items buried in the temple foundations of the Golden Halls of Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji in Nara. According to an ancient Buddhist prophecy, the world would enter a dark period in 1051; consequently in the late Heian period the belief in the saving powers of Maitreya or Miroku, the Buddha to be, became widespread. Believers buried scriptures and images to gain merit and to prepare for the coming Buddha.{{Harvnb|Nishikawa|Sano|1983|p=58}} This practice, which continued into the Kamakura period, required the transcription of sutras according to strict ritual protocols, their placement in protective reliquary containers and burial in the earth of sacred mountains, shrines or temples to await the future Buddha.{{Harvnb|Adolphson|Kamens|Matsumoto|2007|p=245}} The oldest known sutra mound is that of Fujiwara no Michinaga from 1007 on Mount Kinpu, who buried one lotus sutra and five other sutras that he had written in 998. Its sutra container has been designated as National Treasure.
Statistics
All of the 51 National Treasures are presently located in Japan; two were discovered in China and three were found in Japan, but the exact locations of their excavation sites is unknown. The excavation sites of the remaining 45 treasures are contained in the following table.
| class="wikitable" width="35%" style="background:#ffffff;" style="text-align:center" align="left" |
| rowspan=2 align="left" style="background:#ffdead;" | Prefecture
!rowspan=2 align="left" style="background:#ffdead;" | City !colspan=2 align="left" style="background:#ffdead;" | National Treasures |
|---|
| align="left" style="background:#ffdead;" | present location
!align="left" style="background:#ffdead;" | excavation site |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Aomori
| style="background:#efefef;" | Hachinohe | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Ehime
| Imabari | 1 | 1 |
| rowspan=5 style="background:#efefef;" valign="center"| Fukuoka
| style="background:#efefef;" | Buzen | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Fukuoka
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Fukutsu
| style="background:#efefef;" | 2 | style="background:#efefef;" | 2 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Itoshima
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Munakata
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| rowspan=2 valign="center"| Gunma
| Ōta | {{center|—}} | 1 |
| Takasaki
| 1 | 1 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:#efefef;" valign="center"| Hokkaidō
| style="background:#efefef;" | Hakodate | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Engaru
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Hyōgo
| Kobe | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kagawa
| style="background:#efefef;" | unknown | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Kumamoto
| Kikusui | {{center|—}} | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kyoto
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kyoto | style="background:#efefef;" | 4 | style="background:#efefef;" | 3 |
| rowspan=2 valign="center"| Mie
| Ise | 1 | 1 |
| Matsusaka
| 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Miyazaki
| style="background:#efefef;" | Saito | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Nagano
| Chino | 2 | 2 |
| rowspan=9 style="background:#efefef;" valign="center"| Nara
| style="background:#efefef;" | Haibara | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Ikaruga
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kashiba
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kashihara
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Nara
| style="background:#efefef;" | 5 | style="background:#efefef;" | 4 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Sakurai
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tenkawa
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 2 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tenri
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 2 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Yoshino
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} |
| Niigata
| 1 | 1 |
| rowspan=4 style="background:#efefef;" valign="center"| Osaka
| style="background:#efefef;" | Habikino | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kashiwara
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Osaka
| style="background:#efefef;" | 2 | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Takatsuki
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Saitama
| Saitama | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Shiga
| style="background:#efefef;" | Ōtsu | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| rowspan=3 valign="center"| Shimane
| Hikawa | {{center|—}} | 1 |
| Izumo
| 2 | {{center|—}} |
| Unnan
| {{center|—}} | 1 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:#efefef;" valign="center"| Tokyo
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tachikawa | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tokyo
| style="background:#efefef;" | 12 | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} |
| Tottori
| Yurihama | 1 | 1 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:#efefef;" valign="center"| Yamagata
| style="background:#efefef;" | Funagata | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Yamagata
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 | style="background:#efefef;" | {{center|—}} |
| class="wikitable" style="background:#ffffff;" style="text-align:center" align="right" |
| align="left" style="background:#ffdead;" | PeriodOnly the oldest period is counted if a National Treasure belongs to more than one period.
!align="right" style="background:#ffdead;" | National Treasures |
|---|
| Upper Paleolithic
| 1 |
| Jōmon period
| 6 |
| Yayoi period
| 6 |
| Warring States period
| 1 |
| Han dynasty
| 1 |
| Kofun period
| 14 |
| Asuka period
| 2 |
| Nara period
| 12 |
| Heian period
| 7 |
| Nanboku-chō period
| 1 |
File:National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials).png
{{Clear}}
Usage
The table's columns (except for Details and Image) are sortable by pressing the arrow symbols.
- Name: name of the national treasure as registered in the Database of National Cultural Properties
- Details: more information about the object such as size and type of items (if the national treasure comprises more than one item)
- Date: period and year of the item; column entries sort by year or start year of a period if only a period is known
- Excavation site: "site-name town-name prefecture-name"; column entries sort as "prefecture-name town-name site-name"
- Present location: "temple/museum/shrine-name town-name prefecture-name"; column entries sort as "prefecture-name town-name temple/museum/shrine-name"
- Image: picture of the national treasure or of the excavation site
Treasures
| {{nihongo|Sudō Shrine|崇道神社|Sudō Jinja}}, Kyoto
|-
| {{nihongo|Gilt bronze Fujiwara no Michinaga sutra container|金銅藤原道長経筒|kondō Fujiwara Michinaga kyōzutsu}}{{Harvnb|Kornicki|1998|p=88}}{{Cite web
|title = Special Exhibition - The Legacy of Fujiwara no Michinaga: Courtly Splendor and Pure Land Faith
|publisher = Kyoto National Museum
|access-date = 2009-05-15
|year = 2009
|url = http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/070424/shoukai/02_index.htm
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071130030421/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/070424/shoukai/02_index.htm
|archive-date = 2007-11-30
}}
| Cylindrical gilt bronze sutra container of Fujiwara no Michinaga which he buried in a sutra mound during a pilgrimage on Mount Kinpu (now Sanjogatake in Tenkawa, Nara); Height: {{convert|36|cm|abbr=on}}, diameter at base: {{convert|16.1|cm|abbr=on}}, thickness: {{convert|0.3|cm|abbr=on}})
| Heian period, August 11, 1007
| {{nihongo|Mount Kinpu|金峯山|Kinpusen}}, Tenkawa, Nara; excavated in 1671
| Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto; owned by Kinmpu Shrine, Yoshino, Nara
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Nishinoyama Yamashina Kofun|山科西野山古墳出土品|Yamashina Nishinoyama kofun shutsudohin}}
| Burial accessories from the tomb of an aristocrat including: a sword, knife, arrowheads, nail, belt
| {{nihongo|Nishinoyama|西野山}}, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Kinpusen sutra mound|大和国金峯山経塚出土品|Yamato no kuni Kinpusen kyōzuka shutsudohin}}Fragments of the lotus and Samantabhadra sutra on dark blue paper with gilt letters (seven and two pages) and two sutra shafts are attached to the nomination.
| A gold- and silver-plated bronze sutra case with design of birds and hosoge flowers, two bronze sutra cases buried by Fujiwara no Michinaga in a sutra mound during a pilgrimage on Mount Kinpu
| Heian period, 1007
| {{nihongo|Mount Kinpu|金峯山|Kinpusen}}, Tenkawa, Nara
| Kinpusen-ji, Yoshino, Nara
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Bronze epitaph of Ishikawa no Toshitari|金銅石川年足墓誌|kondō Ishikawa no Toshitari boshi}}A wooden chest is attached to the nomination.{{Cite web
|script-title = ja:金銅石川年足墓誌
|trans-title=Bronze epitaph of Ishikawa no Toshitari
|publisher = Takatsuki City
|access-date = 2009-05-15
|url = http://www.city.takatsuki.osaka.jp/rekishi/bunkazai_ishikawa.html
|language = ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120214234/http://www.city.takatsuki.osaka.jp/rekishi/bunkazai_ishikawa.html
|archive-date = 2008-01-20
}}
| Bronze epitaph of the aristocrat Toshitari Ishikawa (29.6 cm × 10.3 cm × 0.3 cm) with a six line, 130 character inscription and gold plating
| Nara period, December 28, 762
| {{nihongo|Tsukimi|月見町|tsukimi-chō}}, Takatsuki, Osaka, Osaka
| Osaka Museum of History, Osaka, privately owned
| 150px
|-
| Artifacts from Sakuragaoka: {{nihongo|Ritual bells with crossed bands design|袈裟襷文銅鐸|kesadasukimon dōtaku}}, {{nihongo|Ritual bell|銅鐸|dōtaku}}, {{nihongo|Ritual Bell with running water design|流水文銅鐸|ryūsuimon dōtaku}}, {{nihongo|Bronze dagger-axes|銅戈|dōka}}
| Ten dōtaku with crossed band design, one other dōtaku, three dōtaku with running water design and seven bronze dagger-axes
| {{nihongo||桜ヶ丘町|Sakuragaoka-chō}}, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyōgo; excavated in December 1964
| Kobe City Museum, Kobe, Hyōgo
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Ritual objects used in consecration of the building site of the Golden Hall, Kōfuku-ji|興福寺金堂鎮壇具|Kōfukuji kondō chindangu}}, designation Nr. 0025{{Cite web
| title = 中金堂鎮壇具
| trans-title = Ritual objects within the foundations of the altar of the Golden Hall
| publisher = Kōfuku
| access-date = 2009-05-13
| url = http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/056.html
| archive-date = February 24, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100224022141/http://www.kohfukuji.com/property/cultural/056.html
| url-status = live
}}
| Two small silver gilded bowl, fragment of a silver gilded stem cup, seven small silver bowls, five rosary crystal beads, six other crystal beads
| Nara period, 710
| within foundations of the altar of the Golden Hall, Kōfuku-ji, Nara. Excavated in 1884
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Seven-Branched Sword|七支刀|nanatsusaya no tachi, shichishitō}}
| {{convert|74.9|cm|abbr=on}} long iron sword with six branch-like protrusions along the central blade and an inscription; probably made in Korea
| Kofun period, 369
| in Isonokami Shrine, Tenri, Nara since ancient times
| Isonokami Shrine, Tenri, Nara
|-
| {{nihongo|Bowl-shaped cap for the finial of the three-storied pagoda of Ōbaradera|大和国粟原寺三重塔伏鉢|Yamato no kuni Ōbaradera sanjū no tō fukubachi}}{{Cite web
|publisher = Nara National Museum
|title = Exhibition - Shinto art from Nara: Treasures of Tanzan Shrine
|access-date = 2009-05-15
|year = 2004
|url = http://sips03.narahaku.go.jp/exhib/2004toku/tanzan/tanzan-1_e.htm
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20110719232928/http://sips03.narahaku.go.jp/exhib/2004toku/tanzan/tanzan-1_e.htm
|archive-date = 2011-07-19
}}
| Copper pagoda finial cap with an inscription, diameter: {{convert|49|cm|abbr=on}} (at top), {{convert|76.4|cm|abbr=on}} (at bottom), height: {{convert|35.2|cm|abbr=on}}
| Nara period, 715
| originally at Ōbara-dera, Sakurai, Nara
| Nara National Museum, Nara, owned by Tanzan Shrine, Sakurai, Nara
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Ritual objects used in consecration of the building site of the Golden Hall, Tōdai-ji|東大寺金堂鎭壇具|Tōdaiji kondō chindangu}}
| Small gilt silver bowl with a hunting motif, swords, armor, a mirror, a fragment of a lacquer box, a crystal box, crystal objects, amber beads, glass beads and 22 crystal beads
| Nara period, c. 750
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Nara Fujinoki kofun|奈良県藤ノ木古墳出土品|Nara-ken Fujinoki kofun shutsudohin}}{{Cite web
| title = Museum Collection Room No. 2
| publisher = Museum of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara
| access-date = 2009-05-18
| url = http://www.kashikoken.jp/museum/gaikokugo/english/collection2.html
| archive-date = July 22, 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722111658/http://www.kashikoken.jp/museum/gaikokugo/english/collection2.html
| url-status = live
}}
| Various articles from a 6th-century tomb generally of Chinese appearance including a gilt bronze saddle with elephant and phoenix motifs, four bronze mirrors, earthen ware and Sue ware, metal objects and glass articles
| Kofun period, latter half of 6th century
| Fujinoki Tomb, Ikaruga, Nara; excavated in 1985
| The Museum, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Kashihara, Nara
| File:Fujinoki-Kofun-20081004.JPG150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Stone with the imprint of Buddha's feet|仏足石|bussoku seki}}{{Cite book
| title = Yakushiji-temple
| publisher = Yakushi-ji
| url = http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/b/bussokuseki.htm
| title = bussokuseki
| trans-title = Buddha footprint
| publisher = JAANUS – Japanese Architecture and Art Net User System
| access-date = 2009-11-08
| archive-date = February 10, 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090210161826/http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/b/bussokuseki.htm
| url-status = live
}}
| Buddha footprint on stone with circles of truth (horin) engraved in the feet; Japan's oldest Buddha footprint
| Nara period, July 27, 753
| Japan, exact place unknown
| Yakushi-ji, Nara, Nara
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Verses tablet|仏足跡歌碑|bussoku seki kahi}} or Yakushi-ji Poems{{Cite journal
| last = Cranston | first = Edwin A.
| title = The Yakushiji Poems
| journal = Monumenta Nipponica
| volume = 31 | issue = 3 | pages = 299–308
| publisher = Sophia University
| year = 1976
| jstor = 2384213
| doi = 10.2307/2384213
| Tablet with 21 verses in the Tanka style praising the Stone with the imprint of Buddha's feet, written in the man'yōgana writing system
| Nara period, c. 750
| Japan, exact place unknown
| Yakushi-ji, Nara, Nara
| File:Buddha footprint Poems Stele2.JPG
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Shitori sutra mound|伯耆一宮経塚出土品|Hōki no ichinomiya kyōzuka shutsudohin}}
| Various items from a sutra mound including a statue of Kannon Bodhisattva, a statue of the {{nihongo|thousand-armed Goddess of Mercy|千手観音}}, a copper sheet with an engraving of Maitreya Bodhisattva, two bronze mirrors, a bronze sutra container, fragments of a {{nihongo||檜扇|hiōgi}} folding fans, remains of short swords and knives, glass beads, two copper coins and remains of lacquer ware
| Heian period, 1103
| Shitori Shrine, Yurihama, Tottori
| Shitori Shrine, Yurihama, Tottori
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Bronze bells from the Kamo-Iwakura site|島根県加茂岩倉遺跡出土銅鐸|Shimane-ken Kamo-Iwakura iseki shutsudo dōtaku}}{{Cite web
| title = The Land of the Gods, Izumo
| publisher = Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo
| access-date = 2009-05-18
| year = 2007
| url = http://www.izm.ed.jp/english/index.html
| archive-date = June 25, 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090625171809/http://www.izm.ed.jp/english/index.html
| url-status = live
}}
| 39 dōtaku ritual bells; largest number excavated from a single site in Japan
| middle Yayoi period
| Kamo-Iwakura Site, Unnan, Shimane. Found in 1996
| Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, Izumo, Shimane
| File:Doutaku in Kamoiwakura ruins.JPG
|-
| {{nihongo|Bronze implements from the Kojindani site|島根県荒神谷遺跡出土品|Shimane-ken Kōjindani iseki shutsudohin}}{{Cite web
| title = Exhibition: Bronze implement and decorative swords
| publisher = Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo
| access-date = 2009-05-18
| year = 2007
| url = http://www.izm.ed.jp/english/seidoki.html
| archive-date = July 22, 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722103443/http://www.izm.ed.jp/english/seidoki.html
| url-status = live
}}{{Harvnb|Shiveley|McCullough|Hall|1993|p=103}}
| 358 bronze swords (more than the number of excavated swords in all of the rest of Japan), 16 {{nihongo|bronze hoko|銅矛}} (spears), six dōtaku ritual bells; length of swords: {{convert|50|-|53|cm|abbr=on}}
| Kōjindani Site, Hikawa, Shimane. Excavated in 1984–1985
| Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, Izumo, Shimane
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Narabara sutra mound|伊予国奈良原山経塚出土品|Iyo no kuni Narabara-san kyōzuka shutsudohin}}
| Artifacts from the Narabara sutra mound including a bronze sutra container of pagoda shape (height: {{convert|71.5|cm|abbr=on}}, diameter of body: {{convert|17.3|cm|abbr=on}}), a bronze sutra container, five bronze mirrors, two {{nihongo||檜扇|hiōgi}} folding fans, two porcelain boxes, a bronze hairpin, small knives, five bronze bells, an iron bell, a temple gong, copper coins, remains of a jar and an earthenware soup bowl
| Heian period, 12th century
| {{nihongo|Mount Narabara|奈良原山, 楢原山|tamagawa kindai bijutsukan}}, Imabari, Ehime
| Tamagawa Museum of Modern Art, Imabari, Imabari, Ehime. owner: {{nihongo|Narabara Shrine|奈良原神社|Narabara Jinja}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Miyajidake Kofun|宮地嶽古墳出土品|Miyajidake kofun shutsudohin}}Various types of metal fittings are attached to the nomination.
| Various articles from a 6th-century kofun including horse ornaments, a crown, remains of two long swords, bronze mirrors, a gold ring, bronze chains, bronze bowls
| Kofun period, 6th century
| {{nihongo|Miyajidake Kofun|宮地嶽古墳}}, Fukutsu, Fukuoka
| Miyajidake Shrine, Fukutsu, Fukuoka.
|-
| {{nihongo|Gold seal|金印|kinin}}{{Cite web
| title = Gold Seal
| publisher = Fukuoka City Museum
| access-date = 2009-05-18
| url = http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/english/eb/eb_fr2.html
| archive-date = November 18, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131118185237/http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/english/eb/eb_fr2.html
| url-status = live
}}
| Gold seal of the {{nihongo|King of the Na state of the Wa (vassal) of Han Dynasty|漢委奴國王|Kan no Wa no Na no Kokuō}}; {{convert|2.35|cm|abbr=on}} square, height: {{convert|2.25|cm|abbr=on}}, weight: {{convert|109|g|abbr=on}}; said to be the seal granted by Emperor Guangwu of Han in 57 AD as mentioned in the Book of the Later Han
| Yayoi period, 1st century
| southern tip of Shikanoshima, Fukuoka, Fukuoka. Found on April 12, 1784
| Fukuoka City Museum, Fukuoka, Fukuoka.
| File:King of Na gold seal faces.jpg
File:King of Na gold seal imprint 1935.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Copper plate sutras|銅板法華経|dōban hokekyō}} and {{nihongo|Copper container|銅筥|dōbako}}A document related to the excavation is attached to the nomination.{{Cite web
| title = Kubote Historical Museum
| publisher = Buzen City
| access-date = 2009-05-18
| url = http://www.city.buzen.fukuoka.jp/ENGLISH/sight/kuboteshi.htm
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050114122504/http://www.city.buzen.fukuoka.jp/ENGLISH/sight/kuboteshi.htm
| archive-date=2005-01-14
}}
| 33 copper plates (21.2 cm × 18.2 cm × 0.3 cm) with engraved sūtras and cast bronze container (height: 22.5 cm, 21.4 cm × 18.3 cm at base) engraved with Buddha statues on all four sides, plated with gold at the four corners
| Heian period, September 24, 1142 (plates) and October 21, 1142 (box) according to inscriptions
| Mount Kubote, Buzen, Fukuoka
| Kubote Historical Museum, Buzen, Fukuoka
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Okitsumiya ritual site of Munakata-taisha|福岡県宗像大社沖津宮祭祀遺 跡出土品|Fukuoka-ken Munakata-taisha Okitsumiya saishi iseki shutsudohin}} and {{nihongo||伝福岡県宗像大社沖津宮祭 祀遺跡出土品|}}{{Cite web
|title=Stroll through Munakata History
|publisher=Munakata City
|access-date=2009-05-18
|year=2006
|url=http://www.city.munakata.lg.jp/e-shigai/sumouyo03.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013024006/http://www.city.munakata.lg.jp/e-shigai/sumouyo03.html
|archive-date=2008-10-13
| title = Ise Jingu and Treasures of Shinto
| year = 2009
| publisher = Tokyo National Museum
}}
| Huge number of artifacts including a {{nihongo|golden loom|金銅高機|kin-sei takabata}}, a harness pendant in the shape of a heart leaf, mirrors, bracelets, beads, Haji ware pot, Sue ware vessel stand, a bronze incense burner, magatama, a gold ring, a gilt-bronze miniature of five-stringed zither, a gilt-bronze miniature floor loom, etc.
| Kofun period–Heian period; the golden loom dates to the Asuka period, 6th–7th century; gilt-bronze loom, pot, vessel stand and miniature zither date to the Nara period, 8th century
| Okinoshima, Munakata, Fukuoka
| Munakata Taisha, Munakata, Fukuoka
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Artifacts from the Hirabaru square-shaped moated burial precinct|福岡県平原方形周溝墓出土品|Fukuoka-ken Hirabaru hōkei shūkōbo shutsudohin}}Attached to the nomination are earthenware fragments, small glass beads and an iron arrowhead.{{Cite web
|script-title = ja:福岡県平原方形周溝墓出土品
|trans-title=Artifacts from the Hirabaru square-shaped moated burial precinct
|publisher = Itoshima
|access-date = 2009-05-18
|language = ja
|url = http://www.city.itoshima.lg.jp/site/bunkazai/hirabaru-syutudohin.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111208113009/http://www.city.itoshima.lg.jp/site/bunkazai/hirabaru-syutudohin.html
|archive-date = 2011-12-08
| volume = 173–174
| pages = 207–225
| last = Barbara Seyock
| title = The Hirabaru Site and Wajinden: Research Notes on the Archaeology of the Kings of Ito
| journal = Nachrichten der Gesellschaft für Natur- und Volkerkunde Ostasiens (NOAG)
| year = 2003
}}
| 40 bronze mirrors, an iron sword with a ring pommel and many beads of various type. Among the bronze mirrors are the largest specimen of their kind with a diameter of {{convert|46.5|cm|abbr=on}}
| {{nihongo|Hirabaru Site|平原遺跡|Hirabaru iseki}}, Maebaru, Fukuoka; excavated in 1965
| Itokoku History Museum, Itoshima, Fukuoka
| {{center|—}}
|}
See also
Notes
{{reflist|group=nb|colwidth=30em}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
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{{refend}}
{{commons category|National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)|National Treasure archaeological materials}}
{{Lists of National Treasures of Japan}}
{{Cultural Properties of Japan}}
{{Prehistoric technology}}
{{featured list}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Treasures Of Japan (Archaeological Materials)}}
Category:Archaeological artifacts