Yayoi Period (B.C.3C~A.D.3C)

-People grew rice plants-

At the end of Jomon, people came to Northern Kyusyu from Korea or from China with rice seeds in the earthen wears.Some of them began to grow rice plants there.Others crossed the Japan Sea to Tohoku.Others went through the Setonai-Kai to Kinki or to Kanto.

Growing rice plants disseminated through the country.It needed many workers to grow them, however it gave Yayoi-jin (Yayoi people) good and constant crops.Gradually they began to live together to make a Mura (village).In Japan, there are many ruins of the villages of Yayoi Period.They are located in Toro (Shizuoka), Yoshinogari (Saga),Itazuke (Fukuoka) etc.,

The ruin of Itazuke (Fukuoka)

-The ruins of the Yayoi village and rice field-

The lateJomon earthen wears and the early Yayoi ones were found at the ruin of Itazuke together. With some pieces of the late Jomon earthen wears called 'Yu-u-su-Doki,' carbonized rice seeds were found, too.The chalco-(bronze) swords and chalco-pikes made in Korea were also found there.

Kango-iseki and rice field (model)

Kango-iseki

The ruin of Itazuke was surrounded by a moat (6m wide, 3-3.5m in depth) to protect against the enemy. We call such ruins as 'Kango-iseki (the ruin surrounded by the moat).' The biggest 'Kango-iseki' in Japan is 'Yoshinogari' (40ha) in Saga .They say 'Yoshinogari' is not a village but a 'Kuni' (nation) during the Yayoi Period.

Yayoi-Doki from Itazuke-iseki

Why do we call these earthen wears 'Yayoi-Doki'?

Because they found these types of earthen wears first at Yayoi-cho, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

Have you heard the name of Itazuke?

Some Americans have heard the name of ' Itazuke' ...During the Korean War (1950-1953), many American planes flew over the Korea Strait from the Itazuke airport.We have no 'Itazuke airport' now.It is now called 'Fukuoka International Airport'.