Jomon Culture – A Message from 15,000 Years Ago

Japan Video Topics - English

8 Nov 202305:02

Summary

TLDRThe ancient Jomon civilization of Japan, dating back 15,000 years, is explored through ongoing excavations at the San'nai Maruyama site in Hokkaido. This culture, harmonious with nature, did not practice agriculture or animal breeding, offering a unique perspective on sustainable living. The site reveals a society that valued spiritual life and community care, as evidenced by the remains of a severely disfigured adult who was cared for by his community. Jomon pottery, with its nature-inspired designs, has inspired modern artists like Okamoto Taro and All Mori Jumpei, reflecting a deep connection to the life force of this ancient culture.

Takeaways

🏰 The civilization of ancient Japan, known as the Jomon period, began around 15,000 years ago and lasted for approximately 10,000 years.
🔍 Ongoing excavations at the San die mariama site, one of the largest Jomon period settlements, are revealing insights into the lives of the ancient people.
🌐 The site's significance is recognized globally, being inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2021, and is considered extremely important from a global perspective.
🌾 The Jomon culture did not involve agriculture or animal breeding, indicating a lifestyle in harmony with nature without major environmental alterations.
🍲 Archaeological findings suggest that the Jomon people practiced sustainable harvesting, preserving resources for future generations.
🙏 Evidence of a highly spiritual society is found in the remains, with no indication of inter-tribal warfare and small hunting weapons.
🤕 A severely disfigured adult skeleton found at the site indicates a society that cared for its vulnerable members, challenging the notion of 'survival of the fittest'.
🎨 The Jomon culture is famous for its pottery, with nature-based decorations and rope-like patterns being particularly prevalent.
👨‍🎨 Renowned artist Okamoto Taro was inspired by Jomon pottery, creating his masterpiece 'The Tower of the Sun', reflecting the life force of ancient Japan.
🌀 Artist Omori Jumpei, inspired by Jomon pottery, uses spiral decorations to express a tension different from modern sensibilities, sensing a special spirit in the art.
🔗 Omori, after recovering from a serious illness, connects with the life force in Jomon pottery, breathing new life into fragmented earthenware pots by joining them together.

Q & A

How long ago did the civilization of ancient Japan begin according to the script?
-The civilization of ancient Japan began about 15,000 years ago.
What is the significance of the site of the Jomon period settlements in terms of ongoing excavations?
-The ongoing excavations at the site of the Jomon period settlements reveal more about the lives of the ancient people, providing insights into their culture and way of life.
How many Jomon prehistoric sites have been found in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku?
-A total of 17 Jomon prehistoric sites have been found in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku.
Why was the San'nai Maruyama site inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2021?
-The San'nai Maruyama site was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2021 due to its global significance as an extremely important site for understanding a culture that did not involve agriculture or animal breeding.
What does the script suggest about the Jomon people's relationship with their environment?
-The script suggests that the Jomon people lived in harmony with nature, as they did not engage in agriculture or animal breeding, which are activities that require significant environmental changes.
What evidence from the site indicates the Jomon people's approach to resource preservation?
-The excavation of a wide variety of foodstuffs suggests that the Jomon people limited their harvesting from the sea and forests to preserve resources for the next generation.
What does the script imply about the spiritual aspect of Jomon society?
-The script implies that Jomon society was highly spiritual, with many remains indicating spiritual practices, but no evidence of inter-tribal warfare.
How did the Jomon people demonstrate care for individuals with severe disabilities?
-The script mentions the skeleton of a man with severe disabilities in all four limbs who grew to adult size, indicating that he was cared for by others throughout his life.
What is the Jomon culture known for in terms of art and craftsmanship?
-The Jomon culture is known for its pottery, with decorations based on nature, particularly rope-like patterns.
How did the artist Okamoto Taro find inspiration in Jomon pottery?
-Okamoto Taro found inspiration in the robust and energetic expression of ancient Japan in Jomon pottery, which he felt could sense their life force.
What is the connection between Jomon pottery and the artwork of All Mori Jumpei?
-All Mori Jumpei is an artist inspired by Jomon pottery, and his works, which feature spiral decorations and a strong sense of tension, have been exhibited internationally.
How does the artist Omori view the legacy of Jomon pottery in relation to modern sensibilities?
-Omori believes that there is a special spirit living on in Jomon pottery, which is completely different from modern sensibilities, and he attempts to transform the ancient practices into something relevant to the present.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Jomon Culture: Harmony with Nature

The script introduces the Jomon civilization of ancient Japan, which began around 15,000 years ago and lasted for approximately 10,000 years. The San Die Mariama site in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku, recognized as a World Heritage site in 2021, is one of the largest prehistoric settlements. This culture is globally significant for its unique lifestyle that did not involve agriculture or animal breeding, indicating a deep harmony with nature. Ongoing excavations reveal the complex culture of the Jomon people, who managed to live sustainably by limiting resource exploitation for future generations and maintaining a highly spiritual society without evidence of warfare.

🎨 Jomon Pottery: Artistic Legacy

The script highlights the Jomon people's renowned pottery, famous for its nature-based decorations, particularly the widespread rope-like patterns. The renowned artist Okamoto Taro found inspiration in Jomon pottery, which he perceived as a robust and energetic expression of ancient Japan. His masterpiece, the 'Tower of the Sun,' reflects this influence. Another artist, Omori Jumpei, also draws inspiration from Jomon pottery, creating works that project a tension different from modern sensibilities. Omori, having recovered from a serious illness, feels a strengthened connection to the life force in Jomon earthenware, and his art involves breathing new life into fragmented pottery, transforming the past into something relevant to the present.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jomon period

The Jomon period, which lasted approximately from 15,000 to 300 BCE, represents the earliest known phase of human habitation in Japan. It is characterized by a hunter-gatherer society that developed a complex culture without the need for agriculture or animal husbandry. In the video, the Jomon culture is highlighted as an example of a society that lived in harmony with nature, with ongoing excavations revealing insights into their lifestyle and way of thinking.

💡Settlements

Settlements refer to the places where people live, especially those that have been established for a long time. The script mentions one of the largest Jomon period settlements, indicating the scale and significance of these ancient communities. The ongoing excavations at these sites are helping to uncover more about the lives of the Jomon people.

💡Excavations

Excavations are the process of carefully uncovering and exploring archaeological sites to learn about past societies. The script discusses ongoing excavations at Jomon period settlements, which are revealing more about the ancient people's lives, their culture, and their relationship with the environment.

💡San die mariama site

The San die mariama site is a specific Jomon period archaeological site that is the largest of 17 prehistoric sites found in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku. It was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2021, indicating its global significance. The site provides a unique glimpse into the Jomon culture and their way of life.

💡World Heritage list

The World Heritage list is a register of cultural and natural sites around the world that are considered to be of outstanding universal value. The inclusion of the San die mariama site on this list underscores its importance in the global context of cultural heritage.

💡Harmony with nature

Harmony with nature refers to a lifestyle that is in balance with the environment, without causing significant harm or disruption. The Jomon people are described as having lived in harmony with nature, reflecting their sustainable practices and respect for the environment, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Pottery

Pottery is the art of making objects from clay that are then hardened by firing. The Jomon period is famous for its pottery, which featured decorations based on nature. The script mentions that the pottery is an important aspect of Jomon culture and has inspired modern artists.

💡Rope-like patterns

Rope-like patterns are a type of decoration commonly found on Jomon pottery, characterized by their resemblance to twisted or braided rope. These patterns are an example of the natural inspiration in Jomon art and are mentioned in the script as being widespread.

💡Okamoto Tarō

Okamoto Tarō is a renowned artist who found inspiration in Jomon pottery. His masterpiece, the Tower of the Sun, is mentioned in the script, illustrating the influence of ancient art on modern creativity.

💡All Mori Jumpei

All Mori Jumpei is another artist inspired by Jomon pottery, whose works have been exhibited internationally. The script discusses how he tries to imagine the worldview of the Jomon people and how this influences his art, reflecting the ongoing cultural impact of the Jomon period.

💡Life force

The life force is a concept that refers to the energy or vitality inherent in living things. In the script, it is mentioned that artists like Okamoto Tarō and All Mori Jumpei sense the life force in Jomon pottery, suggesting a deep connection between the ancient culture and contemporary artistic expression.

Highlights

The civilization of ancient Japan, known as the Jomon period, began around 15,000 years ago and lasted for approximately 10,000 years.

Ongoing excavations at the site of one of the largest Jomon period settlements reveal more about the ancient people's lives.

The San'nai Maruyama site is the largest of 17 prehistoric sites found in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku, and was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2021.

The Jomon culture is globally significant for its unique perspective on living without agriculture or animal breeding, in harmony with nature.

The site provides insights into the Jomon people's way of thinking and their coexistence with nature, including their sustainable harvesting practices.

Excavated foodstuffs suggest that the Jomon people limited their harvest to preserve resources for future generations.

Remains found indicate a highly spiritual society with no evidence of inter-tribal warfare.

The discovery of a severely disfigured adult skeleton suggests a society that cared for its vulnerable members.

The Jomon culture offers lessons on overcoming environmental and social challenges similar to those faced today.

Jomon pottery is renowned for its nature-based decorations, with rope-like patterns being particularly widespread.

Artist Okamoto Taro found inspiration in Jomon pottery, creating his masterpiece 'The Tower of the Sun'.

Artist Mori Jumpei, inspired by Jomon pottery, has exhibited his works internationally, reflecting on the hunter-gatherer worldview.

Mori's art projects a tension and spirit different from modern sensibilities, breathing new life into Jomon earthenware.

Mori's personal experience with illness and surgery has influenced his art, joining fragments of earthenware to symbolize rebirth.

The Jomon people's harmony with nature and their culture continue to send a powerful message from 15,000 years in the past.