上一時代

Following the Yayoi Period of Japan when farming and metalworking techniques were introduced from mainland Asia was the Kofun Period (c. 250 CE - 538 CE) where the religion of Shinto emerges from the beliefs of previous eras and the Yamato Clan rise to power and eventually become the imperial family. The period is named after the style of burial mounds used during this time.

? ? ? ? ? 在日本的彌生時期，農業(yè)和金屬加工技術從亞洲大陸傳入，之后是古墳時期（約250-538）。這一時期，神道思想逐漸從遠古的信仰中浮現(xiàn)，大和氏族崛起并最終成為皇室家族。古墳時代也是以這一時期所使用的墓冢風格命名的。

墓? ? ?冢

The period is marked by the use of burial mounds erected for the elite, varying in size and shape from round or square mounds several meters long to a few hundred-meter-long keyhole shaped ones. Early tombs were simple, they only had the coffin buried in the summit of the mound or inside a stone chamber, but later in the period burial goods were also placed in the tomb, such as weapons, trinkets, or other personal items depending on status. The most powerful people had thousands of pieces buried with them inside separate mounds made exclusively for that purpose. Some of the early burial mounds were made from natural hills but by the 400's CE more and more mounds were made by building a mound on flat ground and featuring a moat. In the late Kofun Period, burial mounds became smaller and more widely used by people of lower status, with groups of 15-meter mounds forming cemeteries. The earliest Kofun were found in central Honshu around the modern-day prefectures of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. These cemeteries date from the early years of the 4th century CE but they would later spread to Kyushu in the south and to the northern and eastern areas of Honshu in the second half of the 4th century CE. Burial mounds show distinct features based on both status and region.

? ? ? ? ? 古墳時代的特點是使用為精英階層建立的墓冢，其大小和形狀各不相同，從幾米長的圓形或方形墓冢到幾百米長的鑰匙孔形狀的墓冢。早期的墳墓很簡單，它們只把棺材埋在土丘的頂部或石室內；但在后期，墓中還放置了隨葬品，如武器、飾品或其他個人物品，這取決于死者生前的地位。最有權勢的人有數(shù)以千計的物品與他們一起埋葬在專門為此目的而建造的獨立土丘內。早期的一些墓冢是修建在天然山丘上，但到了公元400年，越來越多的墓冢是在平地上修建的，并設有護城河。在古墳時代后期，墓冢變得更小，越來也多地位較低的人也開始修建自己的墓冢，而15米的墓冢群也形成了一塊塊墓地。最早的墓冢是在本州中部，即今天的京都、奈良和大阪縣周圍發(fā)現(xiàn)的。這些墓地可以追溯到公元4世紀初年，但后來它們傳播到南部的九州，并在公元4世紀后半期傳播到本州的北部和東部地區(qū)。墓冢根據(jù)死者生前地位和所處地區(qū)顯示出不同的特征。

陶? ? ? 器

One of the most impressive developments in Kofun Period pottery was the appearance of Haniwa, funeral sculptures, which depicted decorated horses, fully armed warriors, well-dressed nobles, farmers, and dancers. These sculptures were placed inside burial mounds and tombs in general as offerings.

? ? ? ? ? 古墳時期的陶器，最令人印象深刻的發(fā)展之一是出現(xiàn)了埴輪（Haniwa），即葬禮雕塑。埴輪一般制作成帶有裝飾的馬匹、全副武裝的戰(zhàn)士、衣著整齊的貴族、農民和舞者。這些雕塑被放置在墓冢中作為祭品。 ?

Pottery items intended for everyday use were produced in the Sueki style, which was a huge improvement compared to the previous styles used in the Yayoi and Jomon Periods as they were made of blue-green clay, formed on a potter's wheel, and fired in a kiln at temperatures of around 1,000 to 1,200 Celsius, the same temperature modern pottery is fired at.

? ? ? ? ? 日常使用的陶器是以Sueki風格生產的，與之前彌生和繩紋時代使用的風格相比，是一種巨大的進步，因為它們是由藍綠色的粘土制成的，在陶輪上成型，并在窯內以大約1000至1200攝氏度的溫度燒制，與現(xiàn)代陶器的燒制溫度基本相同。

技? ? ?術

The technology used during this period is, for the most part, the same as the technology used in the preceding period, although it is from this time that technology becomes more sophisticated. Rice paddies began to be constructed at higher elevations, irrigation systems became more complex, and ironworking became more widespread and intricate. Iron eventually replaced bronze as the metal of choice for tools and weapons as the tin needed for bronze was already hard to come by and was by that period even more scarce. Iron, on the other hand, was plentiful and would eventually become the much stronger steel used in later times.

? ? ? ? ? 這一時期使用的技術在很大程度上與前一時期使用的技術相同，盡管從古墳時期開始，技術變得更加復雜。人們開始在更高海拔地區(qū)修建水田，灌溉系統(tǒng)變得更加精致，鐵器加工變得更加廣泛和復雜。鐵最終取代了青銅，成為工具和武器的首選金屬，因為青銅所需的錫在當時已經很難得到了，而且在那個時期甚至更加稀缺。另一方面，鐵礦石很豐富，并最終發(fā)展成為后世使用的更硬的鋼。

神? ? ?道

Although Shinto emerges during this period its development is rooted in previous eras such as the Yayoi when the worship of gods was first practiced. The word Shinto translates as 'the way of the gods' and it focuses on diligent ritual performance to maintain a proper lifestyle as well as a connection to the gods, or Kami as they are called in Japanese. The Kami are gods or spirits who embody natural powers such as the sea, sun, wind, storms, moon, as well as things like war or the underworld. Although most Kami were associated with nature, some were people, living or dead, sometimes even objects, if they had the proper qualities such as emperors, warriors, or other great people. At first, no special buildings, like temples or shrines, were needed to worship the Kami and any prayers or worship would be done out in the open or by sacred locations like forests by anyone who cared to. It was later that Kami would be worshipped in temples and dedicated shrines by clan chiefs or priests. These Shinto shrines were usually marked by a torii gate. The Kami were not believed to have lived in the shrine, temple, or sacred spot that was dedicated to them but rather it was thought they visited these locations and occupied a statue or figure that depicted them.

? ? ? ? ? 雖然神道在古墳時期出現(xiàn)，但它的發(fā)展植根于前時代，如彌生時代。當時，人們對神的崇拜是首次出現(xiàn)的。神道一詞被翻譯為“神的方式”，它側重于繁雜的儀式表演，以保持適當?shù)纳罘绞揭约芭c神的聯(lián)系，即日本人所說的Kami。神是體現(xiàn)自然力量的神或靈，如海洋、太陽、風、風暴、月亮，以及戰(zhàn)爭或冥界等事物。雖然大多數(shù)神與自然有關，但有些是人，無論是活著還是死了，有時甚至是物體，如果他們有適當?shù)钠焚|（屬性），如皇帝、武士或其他偉大的人。起初，崇拜神靈不需要特殊的建筑，如寺廟或神社，任何祈禱或崇拜都是在戶外或在森林等神圣的地方由任何愿意的人完成。后來，神被部族首領或祭司在寺廟和專門的神社中供奉。這些神殿通常以鳥居為標志。人們認為神并不是住在供奉他們的神社、寺廟或圣地里，而是認為他們會訪問這些地方，并附身描繪他們的雕像或人物。

大和的崛起

Before the Yamato came to power clans would conflict with one another over power. They would become rivals as well as form alliances, using various tactics to try and achieve their goals but no one clan or group of clans would achieve the same amount of power. During the 5th century CE, one family of clans would rise to dominance over the Japanese islands of Honshu and Kyushu. The original seat of power for this clan was the modern-day prefectures of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. Each of the clans was governed by an elder male who would perform ceremonies to honor and appease the Kami and ensure the well-being of the clan and their continued dominance. Clan members were of the aristocracy, who at the end of the period would rise up and become the beginning of the imperial family.

? ? ? ? ? 在大和氏族掌權之前，各氏族為爭奪權力相互爭斗。他們成為競爭對手，也會形成聯(lián)盟，使用各種策略來試圖實現(xiàn)其目標，但沒有一個宗族或宗族集團會保持相同數(shù)量的權力。在公元5世紀，有一個氏族家族在日本的本州和九州島上崛起，成為當?shù)氐慕y(tǒng)治者。這個氏族最初的權力所在地是今天的京都、奈良和大阪。每個氏族都由一位男性長者管理，他會定期舉行儀式來紀念和安撫神靈，確保氏族的福祉和他們持續(xù)的統(tǒng)治地位。氏族成員屬于貴族，在古墳時期結束時，他們崛起并成為日本皇室的開端。

It was through alliances with other clans, tribes, and confederations, the expanded use of iron, and the capability to marshal their people effectively that the Yamato were an effective military power. Although the Yamato were known to have military supremacy during the period, they tried to avoid war if they could and instead tried to form alliances with other clans by offering them a place in the political system or, when that failed, resorted to threats and forced the other clans into agreement. The major clans that supported the Yamato, like the Soga, Mononobe, Nakatomi, Kasuga, Ki, Otomo, and Haji, were called the uji and would be ranked or titled according to their level of kinship or service. Below the uji were the be groups, which were occupational groups consisting of papermakers, scribes, and blacksmiths, among other occupations. Included in the uji and be were some immigrants from China and Korea who had skills in wanted professions, such as metalworking or papermaking. At the bottom was the slave group, members of which were either prisoners of war or those born into that position.

? ? ? ? ? 通過聯(lián)盟其他氏族、部落，提升鑄鐵技術，有效調集其人民，使得大和成為一支強大的軍事力量。雖然大和在當時很強大，但他們試圖避免戰(zhàn)爭，他們更希望試圖形成聯(lián)盟與為其他宗族提供其位置——在政治制度或當失敗、訴諸威脅并迫使其他宗族的協(xié)議。支持大和的主要氏族，如Soga、Mononobe（物部氏）、Nakatomi、Kasuga、Ki、Otomo和Haji，被稱為uji，并將根據(jù)其親屬關系或服務水平進行排名或命名。在uji之下是be，是由造紙師、文士和鐵匠等職業(yè)組成的職業(yè)群體。來自中國和韓國的一些移民也包括在“uji”和“be”中，他們擁有所需的職業(yè)技能，如金屬加工或造紙。最底層的是奴隸群體，其成員要么是戰(zhàn)俘，要么其父母也是奴隸。

與中國和韓國的接觸

It is believed that the Yamato Clans of Japan established diplomatic relations with the Paekche Kingdom in Korea in 366 CE and had an outpost in the south which they governed until they were ousted by the Silla Kingdom in 562 CE. According to some Chinese records, between 413 CE and 478 CE five Japanese kings sent nine ambassadors with tributes to China in order to gain support in the Korean peninsula. While China would receive tribute through Korea from Japan, Japan itself would receive immigrants from China and Korea who would bring along with them their skills and knowledge which the Japanese treasured so as to keep on improving their culture.

? ? ? ? ? ?據(jù)說，日本的大和民族在公元366年與朝鮮的百濟王國建立了外交關系，并在朝鮮南部有一個前哨站，他們一直統(tǒng)治到公元562年，直到新羅王國將其趕走。根據(jù)一些中國的記錄，在公元413年至478年期間，五位日本國王向中國派遣了九名大使，并向中國進貢，以便在朝鮮半島獲得支持。當中國通過朝鮮接受日本的貢品時，日本本身也會接受來自中國和朝鮮的移民，他們會帶來日本人珍視的技能和知識，以不斷改進他們的文化。

向飛鳥時代的過渡

By the end of the period, the Yamato had grown in power and become the Imperial House of Japan, contact with China and Korea increased, and Shinto had made its appearance. The transition to the next period, the Asuka Period (538-710 CE), was marked by the introduction of Buddhism, adoption of Chinese characters as a writing system (as the Japanese natives did not have a writing system of their own) and the adoption of many other aspects of Chinese society since they found the Chinese to be civilized, advanced and wished to be perceived in the same way.

? ? ? ? ? 古墳時代后期，大和民族的勢力有所增長，他們逐漸發(fā)展，成為了日本皇室，與中國和朝鮮的接觸增多，神道教也出現(xiàn)了。過渡到下一個時期，即飛鳥時期（公元538-710年），其特點是引進佛教，采用漢字作為書寫文字（因為日本當?shù)厝藳]有自己的書寫系統(tǒng)），并采用中國社會的許多模式，因為他們發(fā)現(xiàn)中國人是文明的、先進的，并希望以同樣的方式被對方看待。

參考書目：

Collcutt, Martin, Jansen, Marius, Kumakura, Isao. Cultural Atlas of Japan. Phaidon Press Ltd.

History - Kofun PeriodAccessed 1 Dec 2016.

K. Henshall. A History of Japan. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Kofun Period (ca. Third Century - 538) Accessed 24 Jan 2017.

Richard, Comp Tames. Traveller's History of Japan. Interlink Publishing Group, 2008.

Tumulus PeriodAccessed 1 Dec 2016.

原文網址：https://www.worldhistory.org/Kofun_Period/

頭圖：圖片說明了日本古代文明從史前由來自東北亞的舊石器時代移民定居開始的各個時期的發(fā)展情況。在其豐富多彩的發(fā)展的主要時代（繩文、彌生、古墳、飛鳥、奈良和平安），通過深刻的國內演變和不斷的國際交流，日本見證了皇帝的興衰、神道教的盛行和佛教的多種解釋、武士的統(tǒng)治、一些最古老的陶器和世界上第一本小說。