Ceremonical Bronze Bell (Dotaku)

Dōtaku are bronze bells used during the Yayoi Period (about 2200 years ago). The bells were hung and struck to make a sound. Because these bells were introduced to Japan by rice-cultivating cultures from the Asian continent, modern scholars of ancient Japan believe they were used as instruments to pray for a bountiful growing season. About 2000 years ago (during the late Yayoi Period), the bells became much bigger, so it is thought that the larger, newer bells were used primarily as decorations rather than as instruments. Larger dōtaku can be found in many places in western Japan and as far east as Shizuoka and Nagano Prefectures, but in the eastern Kantō region, only small dōtaku of about 10 cm have been found. This dōtaku was excavated during the Edo Period (1603-1868) in present-day Iga City, Mie Prefecture.