Dated about 28,000 years ago, Japanese culture saw the creation of various useful tools such as bifacially flaked choppers or hand axes that show how ancient Japanese inventions are. Throughout the paleolithic period, Japan flourished in many areas that gave it the foundation for what it is today, an advanced country. Artistic creations by the Japanese people told stories about the themes and culture of these people and how they managed to survive and grow throughout many periods. Also, some myths were being formed to better explain how the Japanese islands came to exist, and these stories would go on in history to be the basis of Japan’s history for many ages. So, what artifacts did the Japanese invent to illustrate their cultural changes throughout time? And, what is the myth behind the creation of Japan?
The main Japanese artifacts that shaped the history of this country lie in pottery. The oldest pottery in Japan dates back to 16,000 years ago. With pottery, people were able to save many cultural transformations and events in the style of their work. The quote: “These Incipient Jōmon wares were variously plain, scratched, nailmarked, shell-impressed, or decorated by appliqué strips on their surfaces, while subsequent Jōmon types all exhibited cord-marking in a variety of styles and patterns,” (Friday 58), emphasizes how important pottery was back in the time and how much detail it had. This allowed ancient people to print their history and culture in artifacts that would never be forgotten and that would go down in history for generations to come.
Of course, some countries saw the invention of many myths that tried to help understand the history of many different things. In Japan, there was a myth indicating that two Gods named Izanagi and Izanami created the 4 islands which have become Japan. The stories told are extremely interesting as they explain how the most simplistic moves by the Izanagi God were able to create other islands or Gods. For instance, when Izanagi used to take a shower, certain Gods would be born. These myths make great stories that would help explain many confusing things to people searching for answers to be relaxed.
Finally, the library session during this Friday allowed me to exhibit better judgment when I must pick a source for any project. The library session explained which sources could be more reliable than others, which would minimize mistakes made when trying to gather information related to a specific topic, so that one would be able to come up with the most accurate conclusion possible.
References:
Aikens, Melvin C. “Origins of the Japanese People.”
In Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850, edited by Karl Friday.
New York, NY: Routledge, 2018
Shirane, Haruo. Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600.
New York: Columbia University Press, 2012.
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