Historical Materials No.56
Archaeological Collections from Horyuji Temple
TAMADA Yoshihide
TAKAHASHI Katsuhisa
Editors
TAMADA Yoshihide
KATO Shinji
Contributors
2002
Independent Administrative Institution
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara
Summary
Horyuji is a world famous temple that was built in the 7th century by Shotoku-Taishi (Prince) in Ikaruga town, Nara prefecture, Japan.
This volume (Publication on Historical Materials vol. 56, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties) here being made public is a general explanation upon the archaeological artifacts, of which earthenwares are substantial. Materials also include those which through a variety of circumstances have been passed down at Horyuji. They bear witness to the history about Horyuji and its local area.
The materials presented in this collection total more than 2500 items all together. They are divided into two groups, i.e. those made of clay and those made from another law materials. The explanatory note follows in this order.
The earliest clay materials found at Horyuji are Sue and Haji wares dated to the 5thcenturies (Pls.1-2). They are derived from the settlement in the vicinity and have no special relations to Horyuji. As for the next Asuka period (the 7th century), several areas were excavated prior to the construction of work for prevention of disasters by Nara Research Institute and many important materials were dug out (Pls. 2-5). They offer valuable information to date the first construction of the temple. The date has been argued for a long time in Japanese ancient history because precedent temple was found under the existing buildings known as the oldest wooden buildings in the world. Most of the materials were dug out from the ditches that were packed by reclamation.
In Japan ink slabs (Pl. 10) began to be used in the 7thcentury as the literacy prevailed. Among them most noteworthy one is No. 857, which is glazed green. It might have been imported from Silla, one of the countries of ancient Korea. Another important material dated to Nara period (the 8th century, Pls.6-9) is No.1201. It is a dish with flower-shaped rim and is glazed into three colors.
Shards written or painted with India ink sometimes guides us to a little fantastic ancient world (Pl. 11). Among them No.99 has a mountain sketch supposed to be drawn by a specialist.
As for Heian period dated to the 9 to 12th centuries, Kokusyoku (black) wares, Kaiyu (ash-glazed) wares and Gaki (oxidized) wares were added (Pls. 12-14) to formerly existing ordinary assemblage that consists of Haji and Sue wares. Nos. 866-889 are terra cotta stupas made by molds (Pl. 15). They elucidate the religious life that priests and peers prayed for longevity and exorcism.
As for Kamakura period dated to the 12 to 14lh centuries, medieval age system of pottery productions specialized in each district (e.g. Uozumi, Tokoname, Tamba and so on) grew and celadon porcelains were imported from South China (Pls. 16-17)
In Muromachi period dated to the 14 to 16th centuries, Gaki wares almost disappeared except for small bowls (Pls. 18-23). On the contrary, Gashitsu (quasi-oxidized) wares derived from Gaki wares flourished. Haji wares divided into two types, one is called red ware and the other is called white ware. From this period on, Haji wares were used mainly for the oil lamps. In the Horyuji, several wells were excavated among which that of Kensei-In area brought about good resources. They are typical assemblage of the middle of the 14th century. Jars from the Fukuen-In are so good as to be the standard materials for the dating from Heian period to the early modern period.
In the early modern (Edo) period dated from the 17th to 19th centuries, ceramic productions progressed more and they prevailed into the ordinary people’s use (Pls. 24-31).
On the contrary, porcelain production has not become popular yet. White porcelains from Jingdezhen （景徳鎮） of China were used in the small amount. Haji wares have lost their roles for dining or cooking altogether and mainly were used for lightening. Urns and pots include ones called Bizen-yaki, Okayama pref. Shigaraki-yaki, Shiga prefecture and so on. On two bowls of Karatsu-yaki are found famous priest’s name Kosei, who played the leading role at the rebuilding of the Horyuji in the years of Keicho, i.e. the early 17th century. The volume of the earthenware of the medieval and early modern periods is much more than the ancient period.
Wooden artifacts (Phs. 71-75) mainly consist of vessels, religious objects, tools, ornaments and component parts of furniture. Metal goods (Phs. 76-77) are almost of religious relation and the rest are of ornaments for buildings. Among them the oldest is the bronze spoons No.060 that was possibly used for the religious purpose.
Stone implements (Ph. 78) include the spoon of Jomon (Neolithic) period and the sword of Yayoi (early iron age) period.
There are also casting goods for metallurgy (Ph.80) and goods for a ceremony of purifying of the building site (Ph. 81).
Coins of various age (Phs. 82-85) total 1123. Among them, ancient ones are not so many. On the other hand coins belonging to Edo period (17-19th centuries) might be the ones cast to the offertory chests.
Contents
On the publication of archaeological materials of Horyuji ONO Genmyo iii
Foreword MACHIDA Akira v
Contents vi
Legend x
Photo plates (Ph.)
Plates (Pl.)
Explanatory Notes 1
1 Earthenwares TAMADA Yoshihide 1
i General survey on the earthenwares from Horyuji 1
ii Wares of Kofun period 1
iii Wares of Asuka period 2
iv Wares of Nara period 5
v Ink slabs and glazed wares of Asuka-Nara periods 6
vi Wares written or pictured in India ink 7
vii Wares of Heian period 8
viii Terra cotta stupas of Heian-Kamakura periods 9
ix Wares of Kamakura period 10
x Wares of Muromachi period 11
xi Wares of early modern (Edo) period 13
2 Other materials Kato Shinji 21
i wooden materials 21
ii metal objects 21
iii Stone implements 22
iv Remnants 22
v Coins 23
English Summary TAKAHASHI Katsuhisa (1)
二〇〇二年二月二八日 発行
法隆寺考古資料
奈良文化財研究所史料 第五十六冊
