Dōtaku, ancient bells from Japan

Dōtaku (bell-shaped bronze, national treasure), 1st-2nd century B.C.E., bronze, found in Kagawa Prefecture, 42.7 cm high (Tokyo National Museum)
speakers: Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris

[@NCbassfishing24]

Fun fact: there's a Pokemon called Bronzong whose design is based on this kind of bell.

[@Kid_Ikaris]

You're the best kind of people.

[@courtney9212]

Thanks again for making art accessible! To my untrained eye the figures and animals look very similar to what I know as cave art. Super interesting!

[@ck7642]

Thank you!!

[@guest_informant]

Thank you :-)

[@hansspiegl8684]

Fascinating! Thank you for this video documenting the oldest Japanese culture. Maybe you can make a video about the keyhole graves?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We do have a video and a short essay on the artwork from those graves: smarthistory.org/haniwa-warrior/

[@hansspiegl8684]

@@smarthistory-art-history Thank you for your nice, helpful and quick reply! This Haniwa objects are just fascinating, especially standing on the top of the tumb and not being buried with the king, lord (?). Maybe they should be seen by the gods and spirits? Your canal is really the best I have found an KZbin! 🙂 Thank you for your work!

[@smarthistory-art-history]

@@hansspiegl8684 We very much appreciate your kind words.

[@barrymoore4470]

The Jomon period actually predates the Yayoi, to which this 'dotaku' is assigned.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

@@barrymoore4470 Yes, we make that clear in the video. See for example the timeline at 1:13

[@josephmessner5312]

Very interesting! More please …..

[@LJ7000]

Breathtaking item

[@Sasha0927]

The reconstructed Yayoi village is so beautiful! 😍 I think the gable-roof building is my favorite scene too, followed by the praying mantis with a spider. Man, another Smarthistory playlist bites the dust! This was an amazing journey through ancient art. I'm still holding my breath for the Baroque playlist, but I'm sure there are many more fascinating things to discover between now and then. 🙂 In summary, I've learned that Emperor Bae-drian is my ancient crush, marble structures / sculptures were brightly colored, ancient shade - up to and including damnatio memoriae - was definitely thrown, and we are lucky to have access to as much ancient art as we do.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We are excited that you will, eventually, get to the Baroque!

[@Sasha0927]

@@smarthistory-art-history 🥰I'm stoked. I did notice that there were some playlists (e.g. African Art) that stood outside of time-periods. Those videos are found within their appropriate timeframes, right?

[@jacobanthony6723]

The figure at 2:23 seems to be using a niddy-noddy, used for making skeins of thread after it's spun

[@smarthistory-art-history]

You have an excellent eye! Researches have suggested it might be exactly that, though in the translation from Japanese they call it a spinner.

[@chayanika8155]

Fascinating!

[@knyght27]

Ancient bronze Yayoi bell, featuring the first manga lol

[@random22026]

2:42 Keyhole! 🔐

[@megamanusa5]

It would have been nice to hear one rung!

[@robertpenny7180]

Why do those spirals look dead on like Bronze Age Aegean motifs? I'm thinking Mycenean kylikes and such. It's the same exact thing, that's nuts.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

They also look like spirals seen in East Asian art and in the Americas and of course they look like forms seen in nature throughout the world.

[@DirtyBottomsPottery]

The pestle and mortar scene reminds me of the traditional way to make mochi. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver-white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites When the bee stings When I'm feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver-white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites When the bee stings When I'm feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad