dotaku

Dotaku (銅鐸) are large bronze bells produced in Japan during the late Yayoi period and into the early Kofun period, roughly from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. They are among the most distinctive bronze artifacts of ancient Japan and are predominantly found in western Japan, especially in the Kinai region and around Lake Biwa, where many were excavated at ceremonial sites or near tombs. The term dotaku designates these ritual bells, which appear to have served ceremonial purposes rather than everyday musical functions.

Most dotaku were cast using the hollow-casting, piece-mold technique and are solid objects with a hollow interior. They typically measure from several tens of centimeters up to over a meter in height. The bodies are decorated with raised relief and incised motifs, including animals, birds, boats, houses, human figures, and geometric patterns. Decorations often cover the entire surface and can form complex scenes or bands around the vessel.

The function of dotaku is understood in a ceremonial context. They are believed to have symbolized political authority and agricultural prosperity and may have been used in processions or offerings at ritual sites. Some examples appear to have been deposited in pits or within kofun burial complexes, reflecting their prestige value and the power of the community that produced them. The iconography and construction indicate connections with broader East Asian bronze-working traditions, as well as local religious and social practices.

Today, dotaku are regarded as important witnesses to Yayoi culture. Many examples are designated as important cultural properties in Japan, and others are housed in museums around the world, where they are studied for their craftsmanship and symbolic meaning.