The analysis of character shapes of inscriptions on mirrors with triangular rims and designs of divinities and animals : chronology and craftsmen

三角縁神獣鏡はその重要性ゆえ長い研究史があるが、製作工人に関して工人個人の特定は進んでおらず、編年にも曖昧な部分が多い。本論では、これまであまり注目されてこなかった銘文の字形が、工人差や時期差を反映していると考え、出現頻度の高い文字を中心に字形を分析した。その結果、「作」の字形タイプの変化から2 段階編年が導かれ、その他7 文字の字形タイプの纏まりから14 人の工人が認められた。編年に関しては、既存の編年のこれまで曖昧であった部分の修正や細分を可能にした。工人に関しては、各工人の鏡に図像的特徴やその他の共通性が見られ、工人間には字形・図像的な繋がりも認められた。Mirrors with triangular rims and designs of divinities and animals have been studied for a long time because of their importance, but identification of individuals of their craftsmen has not been developed and their chronologies have many vague points. In this article, I supposed that the difference of character shapes of their inscriptions, which have been rarely emphasized, reflects the difference of craftsmen and periods, so I analyzed shapes of frequently used characters.As a result, changes of the character shape types of “ 作” divided the transition of these mirrors into two stages and changes of the shape types of the other characters identified 14 craftsmen. The new chronology could subdivide existing chronologies and modify them. Regarding craftsmen, mirrors of each craftsman have common points in design expression and other elements and connections between craftsmen were found in character shapes and design expression