The museum is at the ancient political center of Kyushu Island,
which is one of the four main islands of Japan. The huge permanent exhibition
room is named “Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall” and has a title of “Ocean
Ways, Asian Paths”. Kyushu was a window of Japan to the continent because
of the geographic factor.
There are excellent exhibits such as a national treasure which I saw
in the junior high-school textbook. However, it’s not easy to find how people
have enjoyed their lives which is the theme of my blog. Anyway, let’s see the
exhibits.
博物館は、古代九州の政治の中心地・太宰府にあります。平常展の展示室名が「文化交流展示室」、そしてテーマが「海の道、アジアの路」です。九州が大陸の入り口であったことを強く印象づけます。
展示品は国立博物館らしく、国宝級が多く、歴史教科書でおなじみの品もありました。ただ、私のテーマである「昔の人はどのようにして日々の暮らしを楽しんでいたか」ということについては、正直、見つけにくかったです。それはさておき、この巨大な博物館を紹介します。
There are five sections in chronological order. Let’s see “Jomon Culture: Ocean-Bound” at first.
時代順に五つのテーマで展示されています。では、「縄文人、海へ」から
Between 35,000 years ago and the 4th century B.C.、３万５千年前～紀元前４世紀
I respect people in the primitive age, who tried to introduce advanced culture or to bring them across the ocean. The photo above shows lacquerware back then.
Japanese lacquer culture dates back to over nine thousand years ago. People collected lacquer sap, mixed red pigments and create colored accessories and so on.
原始時代の大陸との文化交流です。人々はよくぞリスクを冒して海へ出ていくものだと思います。上の写真は漆器です。
日本の漆文化は9000年前まで遡れます。漆を採取し、朱やベンガラに染め、装飾品などを作りました。展示品はいずれも東北で出土されたもの。鮭などの食べ物が多い東北の文化が栄えたそうです。
Rice Between the 4th century B.C. and the 7th century A.D.、紀元前４世紀～紀元後７世紀
Rice cultivation came to Japan in around 4th century B.C., and started fighting to get a good land for farming. Therefore, small countries with a king appeared. They held a ritual.
People have carried out rituals for the goddesses in Okino-shima (island) since the 4th century. Its ritual implements are exhibited; artifacts on enlarged photos are designated as a national treasure.
戦いが起こり王たちが現れた時代です。九州と対馬の間にある沖ノ島では、４世紀から「神まつり（国家祭祀）」が続けられています。国宝指定の祭具が展示されています。
Between the 7th and 12th centuries、７～１２世紀
The exhibits above (tumulus furnishings) show the exchange with East Asia such as an arabesque designed crown. The giant gilt sword (3m long) in center is a reproduction.
古墳時代の副葬品。唐草文様の冠など東アジアとの交流を示す物があるそうです。中央で金色に輝くのは３ｍの大刀の再現文化財です。
“Dazaifu” had offices here, which is the political center of Kyushu and the point of exchange with East Asia.
そして律令の時代、九州の政治の中心であり東アジアとの窓口である太宰府は、博物館の近くに置かれました。
The “Dazaifu” site is a peaceful park now.
政庁跡はのどかな公園として整備されています。
Japan dispatched an envoy to China (Tang Dynasty) to introduce advanced culture. The exhibits above are cutting edge products which envoys brought back: naturally occurring medicines, incenses and glassware.
菅原道真が好きだった囲碁の展示も興味深いですが、こちらは遣唐使たちが持ち帰った物です。当時の最先端の品ですね。生薬やお香、ガラス製品です。
And Buddhist sutra (o-kyo) were precious imports.
そして経典も持ち帰りました。
Between the 12th and 16th centuries、１２～１６世紀
Overseas exchange had been improved in the East Asia. Hakata which is near the museum is at the important location.
海を舞台にした交流がどんどん進んでいきました。博多は重要な場所ですね。
Between the 16th and 19th centuries、１６～１９世紀
Japan exchanged with the western countries which expanded overseas. However, it is written “During the Edo period (17th -19th century), the ruling Tokugawa shogunate cracked down on Christianity --- and eventually closed most of the nation off to the outside world in a period of national isolation.”
地図に全世界が入りました。しかし、日本は交易を制限し、禁教へと進みました。
The shogunate required people in Kyushu to step on the plate upper left in order to find Christians. It is familiar to Japanese because it is seen on a school textbook of history.
In spite of oppression, hidden Christians kept a Buddhist image (lower right) which looks like the Virgin Mary, and kept worshipping. It’s a sad story.
「キリスト教の伝来と禁教」の展示では、教科書でおなじみの品（踏絵とマリア観音）が展示されています。信仰の力は強いです。
On the other hand, dazzling porcelains made in Imari of Kyushu became popular among European royalty and titled nobility. Those were exported. To be honest, the craftsmen who were taken to Kyushu during the invasion to Korea in the 16th century, started the industry. It’s a regrettable history.
Reference（参照）：The Kyushu Ceramic Museum、佐賀県立 九州陶磁文化館
一方で、佐賀の伊万里焼は、欧州の王侯貴族の間で大流行し、大量に輸出されました。元々は、秀吉の朝鮮侵略時に連れ帰った陶工たちの技術です。なんとも微妙ですね。
Dazaifu Tenmangu (shrine)、太宰府天満宮
The popular tourist spot Dazaifu Tenmangu is next to the museum.
博物館は、太宰府天満宮のお隣にあります。人気スポットですね。
The statues on the left are uso (bullfinch) birds. “Uso” means a lie in Japanese; there is a unique festival, in which worshippers exchange their wooden “uso” birds in rotation. It means exchange bad things (uso) with others, and change them to a luck by the power of Tenjin God. (Reference and photos: https://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en/art-and-events/events/usokae-festival/ )
天神様に関係する動物といえば、道真公の生まれ年の牛ですが、私は、鷽（うそ）に注目しました。鷽替え神事、独特です。
無形民俗文化財記録映像「鷽替神事」（18分34秒、神事は７分３０秒頃から）：https://www.city.dazaifu.lg.jp/site/bunkazai/2933.html
Visited in May, 2022
Official website: https://www.kyuhaku.jp/en/
https://www.kyuhaku.jp/
(in Japanese), accessed in October, 2022
Previous post (a book about folklore、漁村の民俗の本): Life
in a fishing village and the role of women (published in 1946) (2/2)、漁村の生活と婦人の役割 part2
Next post (one of the most popular hot spring resorts in Japan): Beppu Onsen Resort、別府温泉と湯の花小屋
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