Purpose

During the history of humankind, iron has brought many benefits to society. That is the case in contemporary society, as well, but because iron is so close to our personal experience, we are losing interest in its value and history. In particular, Japan’s tatara (foot operated bellows) iron making produced iron of a quality unseen in other parts of the world, but the origins of this technology are, to a certain extent, still veiled in mystery. Tracing its history takes us back 1,500 years to Japan’s Tumulus period, and further back, to the Korean peninsula and China. As iron made its way to Japan, its technology and quality changed greatly, and it exerted much influence on the societies of each area. In this center, excavated materials are analyzed archeologically and scientifically, and the iron technology (iron making, casting, forging) of East Asia and the impact of iron on social change in various parts of Asia are being clarified.

Outline of the Facility

The center not only conducts archeological research on ancient structural remnants and artifacts, but also conducts metallurgical and mineralogical research, as well as research in the humanities such as ethnology and the study of historical documents. This fusion of research in the humanities and sciences has led to the establishment of two sections within the center.

East Asian Iron Culture Research Section

1. Clarifies the transmission of iron culture through research on archeological materials related to East Asia.
2. Elucidates the relationship between iron and social change in East Asia and the regionality of iron culture.

Ancient Ironware Production Technology Research Section

1. Elucidates the iron making, casting and forging technology of East Asia through archeological and metallurgical examination of excavated materials.
2. From the understanding of iron technologies thus achieved, and taking into consideration traditional iron technologies still in existence, reconstructs the iron technologies of ancient East Asia.

To carry out such research, in addition to full- and part-time faculty members, visiting professors and researchers from non-academic Japanese institutions, China, Korea, and the United States will be welcomed, and academic activities in various fields such as archeology, metallurgy, mineralogy, study of historical documents, and study of the traditional techniques of Intangible Cultural Assets will be pursued, in order to restore actual iron technology and culture.

In the future this center will carry on investigations of the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan, China, the iron making remains of the palace of Genghis Khan in Mongolia, the Korean peninsula, and in Japan, will recreate that technology, and will explain to as many as possible the relationship between people and iron. We hope that everyone will come to understand the greatness and the beauty of iron.

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