- Inariyama Sword
Inariyama sword ("Inariyama Kofun Shutsudo Tekken" 稲荷山古墳出土鉄剣 or "Kinsakumei Tekken" 金錯銘鉄剣) is a iron sword excavated at the "Inariyama Kofun" in
1968 , located inSaitama Prefecture . In1978 , theX-ray analysis revealed a gold-inlaid inscription consists of more than 115 Chinese characters, which was described as the discovery of the century for the Japanese ancient history study. The sword is designated as thenational treasures of Japan .Inscription
The original Chinese inscription is as follows;:辛亥年七月記乎獲居臣上祖名意富比◇其児多加利足尼其児名互已加利獲居其児名多加◆次獲居其児名多沙鬼獲居其児名半互比其児名加恙◆余其児名乎獲居臣世々為杖刀人首奉事来至今獲加多支鹵大王寺在斯鬼宮時吾左治天下令作此百練利刀記吾奉事視(?)湿(?)也
In English;:Written in the seventh month, the year of
xīn-hài (471 BC). I am a subordinate, Wowake. The first ancestor was Ohohiko, its son was Takarinosuku, its son was Takarinosukune, its son was Teyokariwake, its son was Tasakiwake, its son was Hatehi, its son was Kasahiko and its son was a subordinate, Wowake. My family have served as guardsmen for kings until now. When King Wakatakeru presented at the palace of Shiki, I helped King to govern the world. And I ordered to make this 100 times-forged swordInterpretation
The buried person of the tomb, named Wowake, was a influential warrior in the region. The king, Wakatakeru, is estimated as the same person as Ōhatsusewakatakerunomikoto in
Nihon Shoki , an alias ofEmperor Yūryaku . [Joan Piggott, "The Emergence of Japanese Kingship", Stanford University Press, 1997] His name is also mentioned in another inscribed sword,Eta Funayama Sword .References
External links
* [http://www.interq.or.jp/www-user/fuushi/5-anc/kodaisi/inani/inani-a.htm Picture of the sword] ,
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