The ceremonial bronzes or Dōtaku are the first production of bronzes in Japan. The bronze work techniques travelled from China through Korea. These bells were associated to agrarian rituals, probably used to give rhythm to the rice harvest. They were buried in isolated locations, hidden then forgotten during the numerous wars that have shaped Japan.
This forty centimeter high bell dates back to middle Yayoi period. The handle is decorated by ranges with different patterns including saw-tooth waves and spirals. The saw-tooth waves can be also found on the lateral edges with double swelling. The decoration fills almost the whole body of the bell, except for the bottom stripe. It can be seen on both sides of the bell body, organized in four squares divided by horizontal and vertical stripes, decorated with spirals and X patterns.
Publication
This bell was published in :
Osaka Prefectural Senboki archaelogical research center, Osakafu no dotaku zuroku (Catalogue of bronze bells in Osaka Prefecture) (Osaka: Osaka Senboku Koko shiryokan, 1986), plates 52 et 53.