The Jomon and Yayoi Eras in Japan
Compare and contrast the key aspects of the Jomon and Yayoi eras
Early Japanese history is divided into three main periods; Jomon, Yayoi and Kofun. This essay will compare and contrast the two earliest, the Jomon and the Yayoi, with a view to describing the key differences between the periods as well as the traits and similarities that connect them.
The Jomon period started in 11,000 BC and lasted over 10,000 years until 300 BC. It is such a long period of time that most historians break it down into six parts; Incipient, earliest, early, middle, late and latest (Collcutt, Jansen & Kumakura, 1988, p.32). The name Jomon literally means “rope pattern”. This is to do with the way the Jomon made their now world famous pottery. The Jomon were classic hunter-gatherers, who had limited technology – metallurgy was not introduced until the Yayoi period. Throughout this great expanse of time, the Jomon changed their way of life, in terms of methods for food, diet, technology, and infrastructure. Next came the Yayoi period, which was from 300 BC to 300 AD. The characteristics of the Yayoi period came about through a mix of late Jomon traits and influences from the new settlers from the mainland and the Korean peninsula. The name Yayoi comes from the Yayoi quarter of the Bunkyo ward in Tokyo where the first archaeological discoveries for it were made (Japan Reference, 2013. Para. 1). This period was characterized by the widespread use of wet-field rice cultivation and improved technology, which in turn brought about greater social stratification and population growth.
The first aspect of Jomon and Yayoi eras that I will compare is the diet and nutrition of their peoples. The Jomon diet was originally typical of a hunter-gatherer culture. It involved hunting what was catchable with stone weaponry and foraging the woods for nuts and other small foods such as fruits and edible plants. Some examples include, gourds,
Early Japanese history is divided into three main periods; Jomon, Yayoi and Kofun. This essay will compare and contrast the two earliest, the Jomon and the Yayoi, with a view to describing the key differences between the periods as well as the traits and similarities that connect them.
The Jomon period started in 11,000 BC and lasted over 10,000 years until 300 BC. It is such a long period of time that most historians break it down into six parts; Incipient, earliest, early, middle, late and latest (Collcutt, Jansen & Kumakura, 1988, p.32). The name Jomon literally means “rope pattern”. This is to do with the way the Jomon made their now world famous pottery. The Jomon were classic hunter-gatherers, who had limited technology – metallurgy was not introduced until the Yayoi period. Throughout this great expanse of time, the Jomon changed their way of life, in terms of methods for food, diet, technology, and infrastructure. Next came the Yayoi period, which was from 300 BC to 300 AD. The characteristics of the Yayoi period came about through a mix of late Jomon traits and influences from the new settlers from the mainland and the Korean peninsula. The name Yayoi comes from the Yayoi quarter of the Bunkyo ward in Tokyo where the first archaeological discoveries for it were made (Japan Reference, 2013. Para. 1). This period was characterized by the widespread use of wet-field rice cultivation and improved technology, which in turn brought about greater social stratification and population growth.
The first aspect of Jomon and Yayoi eras that I will compare is the diet and nutrition of their peoples. The Jomon diet was originally typical of a hunter-gatherer culture. It involved hunting what was catchable with stone weaponry and foraging the woods for nuts and other small foods such as fruits and edible plants. Some examples include, gourds,
References: Collcutt, M., Jansen, M. & Kumakura, I. (1988) Cultural Atlas of Japan. New York, NY. Facts on File, Inc. Habu, J. (2004) Ancient Jomon of Japan. Cambridge, UK. University of Cambridge. Japan Reference, 2013, Yayoi era. Retrieved October 10, 2013 from JAPAN REFERENCE.http://www.jref.com/japan/history/yayoi_era.shtml Pearson, R. (1992) Ancient Japan. New York, NY. George Brazillier. Schirokauer, C. (1993) A Brief History of Japanese Civilization. New York, NY. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. Totman, C. (2000) A History of Japan. Malden, MA. Blackwell Publishers Inc. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2013. Jomon Culture. Retrieved October 10, 2013 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jomo/hd_jomo.htm The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2013. Yayoi Culture. Retrieved October 10, 2013 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/yayo/hd_yayo.htm