We went to the museum again and, as usual, it was quite educational. The longer I live here in Japan, the more I learn about the history of this fantastic country. Well, that's how it should normally be when you live in another country for a long time - but I'm also having a lot of fun. Just like in that museum that brought us pretty close to a time in Japanese history known as the Jomon period.
The Jōmon period (縄文時代, Jōmon jidai) is a phase of Japanese prehistory that lasted from around 14,000 BC to 300 BC. It is known for its hunter-fisher-gatherer culture, which gradually became sedentary and developed some of the oldest ceramics in the world. The Jōmon period ended with the beginning of the Yayoi period, when wet rice cultivation was introduced and contact with mainland Asia increased.
And it is precisely from this period that I have brought back a few pictures for myself and for you. First we see a winter scene in which hunters have killed a deer. Winter must have been the hardest time for the people of that time, when it was not always easy to get enough food for yourself and the rest of your tribe.
Spring was no different, especially at the beginning of the season. There was still little food to be found in the forests, and the people of the time had to know exactly where to find which roots and leaves in these early months. Nature still had to develop, which applied equally to the animal and plant world.
It would probably be a bit of a stretch to describe summer as a time of plenty. But at least it was warm and life was a little more pleasant than in the cold months before. And there was now a lot of food to be found in the sea. If you were clever and resourceful, you could catch quite some fish or other seafood in the ocean. In some areas, there are said to be layers of mussels several meters high, which bear witness to how much of this shellfish people ate back then.
Autumn was supposedly the busiest time for the people of the region. Supplies had to be gathered and houses had to be prepared for the approaching winter. Even then, people lived, loved and suffered, and there is probably no reason to romanticize this period. But at least in those times, as in the Jōmon culture, people had a much closer and deeper connection to nature and to their own environment. This is something that we have unfortunately lost in this day and age, and something we should definitely remember.
And our visit to the museum was a great idea, and not just because of this food for thought. It is always good, not only for the little ones but also for us grown-ups, to remind ourselves where we come from. In the end, many people of that time were pretty similar all over the world. Even if it may have been a little harder in some regions, especially in the colder months of the year. You can still feel this today, and it still characterizes the people in the area of Japan where I am currently staying in.
Let's see when and where I can learn something new next time. Actually, there is an opportunity to do so almost every day, we just have to go for it. And if someone suggests a visit to a museum, it's best not to turn it down...
