Museum Collection
Room No.3
Asuka - Nara period (A.D.592 - 794)
Heian - Kamakura period (794-1603)
Asuka--Nara Period
(592--794)
With the introduction of Buddhism and a new political system (Ritsuryo) from Korean peninsula, political power became concentrated to only a few people. These strong leaders made imperial residences and early capital cities to symbolize their centralized authority. As new material culture and information continued to be introduced, the political power and culture of the ruling elite began to be symbolized by the construction of Buddhist temples causing the construction of tumuli to gradually decrease.
end rooftile with decoration
(Asukadera temple, Asuka Vill.)
senbutsu Buddha images clay relif They were used for decoration of the internal of temples
(Tadaduka haiji site, Katsuragi City)
unearthed condition of central foundation stone of pagoda New architectural
technique was inflowed with Buddhism.
(Jiko-ji site, Katsuragi City)
The introduction of the Ritsuryo order caused a centralized state to be established in the Japanese archipelago.Taxes were collected by using a family register and powerful clans were made to live in the capital as aristocracy and participated in politics, judicial administration and religious aspects in order to establish a political system which followed a written law.
sansai (three-glazed pottery) inkslab and glass tube for writing brush These
writing materials were buried as grave goods.
(Tatsuta-gobo-yama Tumulus, Ikaruga Town)
group of pottery used in Heijo-kyo Capital
(Heijo-kyo sakyo roku-jo ni-bo site)
Heian-Kamakura-Muromachi Period
(794--1603)
The capital was moved to Kyoto in hope of stopping the conflicts by powerful aristocrats and Buddhist temples concerning stable wealth made possible by the social system following the Ritsuryo order. But the many Buddhist temples left behind did not lose their economical power. These temples eventually started to control the Yamato region and in order to increase their economic base, they continued to develop and readjust the farmland within their fief. Recent archaeological excavations have provided us with direct evidence for previously unknown aspects of the lives of the peasants who lived in these fiefs. The evidence shows us that the basis of our lives today, from tableware to arts such as tea ceremony and no , had been formed in this period.
hanging Buddha image, kakebotoke
(Hachioh jinja shrine, Nara City)
chess piece
(Kofukuji site)
brazier
(Kanchoji site)