In this glossary, historical terms concerning Iwase-senzuka are explained based on my understanding. Other words which may be unfamiliar to someone are included here. They are arranged in alphabetical order according to its notation in Japanese romaji (the Roman alphabet).
Chronicles of Japan(『日本書紀』)
The first Japanese official history book compiled by the Imperial court by following authorized Chinese history books such as that of the Han dynasty or that of the Later Han Dynasty. Chronicles of Japan was completed in 720. It describes history from the mythological age to the reign of Empress Jito (the 41st, 645–702). It is written in classical Chinese chronologically.
As a ancient history learner, I am interested in how much contents of Chronicles of Japan are based on historical events.
Dogu (土偶)
Dogu is an unglazed earthenware doll which has been unearthed from many Jomon archaelogical sites. Though there are various views on the usage and the aim, it is thought that they were made with magical and religious meaning.
Gaki Pottery(瓦器)
Blakish pottery with carbon sunk in the polished surface. It was used as a bowl between the Heian Period and the Kamakura Period.
Itakiso Shrine (伊太祁曽神社)
This Shinto shrine is referred to in an article about the year of 702 of a Japanese official history book (『続日本紀』) compiled in the Heian Period. The deitiy is very famous as "the tree god." among the locals. It is said that the shrine was originally situated at the place of present NIchizengu Shrine.
Nichizen-gu Shrine（日前宮）
Hinokuma Shrine and Kunikakasu Shrine, which are located side by side in the same precincts, are collectively and commonly called "Nichizen-gu." Each mirror enshrined as the object of worship is regarded as equal to sacred treasure mirror (Yata-no-kagami) at Grand Shrine of Ise.
Hanayama Hill
This archaeological site is located in just west of Hanayama. I hear that pillar holes for pit dwellings and dug-standing pillar buildings in the Kofun Period were unearthed there.
Haji Pottery(土師器)
A general term for unglazed reddish pottery produced between the Kofun Period and Heian Period. It has no patterns. It developed from Yayoi pottery. It was fired at around 800°C/1500°F.
Hanayama (花山)
It is a name of a hill over 77 meters above sea level in Wakayama City. It is located at the most north-western part of the Iwase-senzuka. The Special Historic Sites area, however, does not include Hanayama.
Hanayama in Japanese means "flower hill." In the past, the hill was called "Hani-yama," which was from "haniwa hill."
The hill of Hanayama faces Oto-ura Site in the west.
The Han dynasty (漢王朝)
The Han dynasty was in China. It consisted of the Early Han dynasty (202 BCE–8 CE) and the Later Han dynasty (25–220). After the Qin Dynasty fell (202 BCE), Liu Bang(劉邦) defeated Xiang Yu(項羽) and unified the whole China. The Early Han dynasty established a centralized government. It also conquered Wiman Joseon(衛氏朝鮮) and directly controlled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula as its four commanderies including Lelang.
A flat stone tool to gather only ears of rice to harvest. In the Yayoi Period, different kinds of rice were grown together and the harvest time varied and the stone knife called ishibocho, which literally means "stone kitchen knife," was useful.
Jomon pottery (縄文土器)
A general term for earthenware used in the Jomon Period. Dr. Edward. S. Morse (1838–1925) used the word "cord marked pottery" for the first time in his report about Omori Shell Heap in 1879. ("Jo 「縄」" means "cord" and "mon「文」" means "mark.")
The oldest Jomon pottery dates back to around 12,000 years ago and it was used for around 10,000 years after that. It is one of the oldest pottery in the world.
Fundamental deep-pot style accounts for about 70 percent. The firing temperature is around 800℃.
Provinces called kuni in Japanese(くに、クニ、国、邦)
A Japanese word "kuni(くに、クニ、国、邦) has various meanings. They are "country," "nation," "government," "region," "area," "home country," and "hometown." A historical term kuni written in katakana letters(クニ) refers to "an king-led province consisting of villages in one area during the Yayoi and Kofun periods. Another word(国) written in kanji character began to be used in the 8th century as an official term referring to a province under the control of the central government in Nara. In this website, a term "king-led province" is used as a word meaning kuni(クニ).
Sue Pottery(須恵器)
Sue pottery was produced between the middle Kofun Period and the Heian Period. The relatively hard grayish black earthen was shaped on a pooter's wheel and was fired at high temperature (around 1,200°C/2,200°F) in a climbing kiln. Mainly potters from the Korean Peninsula produced it.
The Three Kingdoms Period (in China) (三国時代・中国)
After the end of Han dynasty, Wei, Shu and Wu dominated China from 220 to 280 AD. The period is called the Three Kingdoms Period. After this period, the Western Jin dynasty was established.
The period just before the Three Kingdoms Period from 184 to 220 was marked by chaotic infighting among warlords across China as Han authority collapsed. The period from 220 to 263 was marked by a comparatively stable settlements among the three kingdoms.
This stability was broken down with the seizure of Shu by Wei in 263 and then Jin usurped Wei in 265. Ultimately, Jin conquered Wu in 280.
"Ryo," which is usually pronounced "misasagi" as a single word, means "mausoleums for emperors, empresses, emperors' grandmothers, the preceding empresses," and "bo," which is pronounced "haka" as a single word, means "tombs for other imperial family members."
The Imperial Household Agency of the Japanese national government controls the ryobo, and almost always prohibits common people including archaeologists from entering the premises.
As a result, archaeological research has not been conducted as properly as scientists hope for and researchers seem to have no option but to study ryobo based on limited circumstantial evidences.
Controversy over some of the kofun tomb owners have continued even among Japanese archaeologists.
A ritual implement symbolizing males in the Jomon Period. Some sekibo realistically depict a male sexual organ. Those are thought to have been used to pray for prosperity of descendants and large harvest. They began to be used in the early Jomon Period and large-sized ones appeared in the middle Jomon Period
Yayoi pottery (弥生土器)
A general term for earthenware used in the Yayoi Period. Yayoi is a name for the place in Tokyo where Yayoi pottery was found for the first time.
Three different types consisting of storage pots, cooking pots and serving plates are general.
Potter's wheels were not used. The burning temperature was around 800℃. In most cases, Yayoi pottery is thinner and harder than Jomon pottery.
Wei(魏)
One of three kingdoms during the Three Kingdoms Period in China. Cao Cao(曹操) unified the northern part of China in the late Later Han Period and became the king of Wei. In 220, Cao's son named Cao Pi(曹丕) established the Wei dynasty by urging Emperor Xian of Han(献帝) to abdicate the throne. The capital was Luoyang(洛陽). The national strength Wei is said to have been greater than Shu(蜀) or Wu(呉). The fifth emperor (Emperor Yuan 元帝) stepped down from the throne and the Wei dynasty ended in 265. After that, Sima Yan(司馬炎) founded the Western Jin dynasty.
