Some Problems Arising from Agricultural Implements Excavated from the Fujinoki Tumulus (Studies on Farming Culture II)

application/pdf奈良県斑鳩町の藤ノ木古墳からは，金銅製や金銅装の馬具，銅鏡，玉飾り，金銅製装身具，飾り大刀などの豪華な副葬品とともに，斧・鉇・刀子・のみ・鎌・鋤などの鉄製農工具の雛型品が合わせて100点近く出土している。それらの鉄製農工具類はいずれも，横穴式石室内に石室の主軸と直交する方向に置かれた家形石棺と石室奥壁の間の狭い空間に，馬具や挂甲などとともに置かれていた。いずれも雛型品であるが，木柄の痕跡をとどめており，本来は柄を装着した状態で副葬されていたものと想定される。 こうした鉄製農工具の副葬の風習は，古墳の出現期以来，古墳時代の前期・中期を通じて日本列島の古墳にみられる顕著な特色である。最初は実物の農工具を副葬していたが，前期末葉から中期には，それらを石で模した石製模造品や鉄製の雛型品を納める例が多くなる。こうした農工具副葬の意味については諸説があるが，基本的には，農耕儀礼を実修する司祭者でもあった古墳時代の首長が用いる神まつりの道具であったと思われる。それは神をまつる者の神聖な業である酒造りや機織りの道具が，農工具と同じように中期には石製模造品として副葬されることからもうなづけよう。 こうした鉄製農工具の一括副葬の風習は，古墳時代後期になると次第にすたれてくる。とくに藤ノ木古墳のように100点近くもの農工具が棺側に一括して納められるような例はほとんどみられなくなる。後期でも新しい６世紀末葉の藤ノ木古墳に，きわめて本来的なかたちで農工具の副葬がみられることは，藤ノ木古墳の性格を考える上にも示唆的である。それは伊勢神宮の神宝の玉纏太刀の原形とも考えられる豪華な倭風の飾り大刀の副葬とも共通するもので，その被葬者が，国家的な祭祀を執行する職能をになう大王の一族であったと想定されることと無関係ではなかろう。Together with the elaborate grave goods found in the Fujinoki tumulus (Ikarugacho, Nara Prefecture) ―horse trappings of gilt bronze, bronze mirrors, jade ornaments, gilt bronze armor, a decorated sword among them-nearly one hundred iron agricultural implements were also excavated. These included axes, adzes, knives, chisels, scythes and plowshares. All had been placed in the stone burial chamber, together with horse trappings and armor, in a narrow space between the dwelling-shaped stone coffin and the inner wall. They were all diminutively sized, but retained traces of wooden handles, so it may be assumed that they were equipped with handles at the time they were buried. This custom of burying iron agricultural implements is a special characteristic of early and middle Tomb Period burials in Japan. Initially actual agricultural implements were buried, but from the end of the early period into the middle period there are numerous examples of stone models or iron miniatures in tumuli. There are various theories to account for the presence of agricultural implements as grave goods, but it is generally thought that they would have been used as ritual objects in religious ceremonies by the priest with whom they were buried. By the same logic we can understand how, during the middle Tomb period, stone models of sake brewing implements or of weaving looms came to be buried with priestly functionaries. The custom of burying these iron agricultural implements all together gradually disappeared in the late Tomb Period. In particular, cases like that of the Fujinoki tumulus, where some hundred such objects were placed beside the coffin, are almost unknown. Since the Fujinoki tomb dates to the late 6th century, the very end of the Tomb Period, the extremely anachronistic nature of these agricultural grave goods may suggest something about the character of this particular tomb. Like the presence of the elaborate Japanese-style sword, which could conceivably have been the model for the jewelled sword at he Shrine, these goods may well indicate that whoever was buried in the Fujinoki tomb was a member of the monarchical family responsible for officiating at national religious ceremonies.departmental bulletin pape