●Chikatsu Asuka Museum
Welcome to the Special exhibit, Spring 1999
The Great Shura! Japanese Civilization in the fifth century: The historic context of Sledges.
Scientific treatment has made it possible to preserve wood and
metal artifacts excavated from archaeological sites. And this has
created the opportunity for large numbers to view them.
The Oshura excavated in 1978 from the bottom of the moat surrounding
the Mitsuzuka Tumulus in Fujiidera, Osaka Prefecture is an excellent
example of such an artifact.
The people of the Kofun period used sledges, or shura, to transport heavy
items such as stone coffins. The "Oshura" is a strikingly large
example of one. It was made with a large Y-shaped limb of a Japanese
oak. When it was excavated, it was spongy and waterlogged and had
he consistency of tofu from being buried in the earth for 1500 years.
If it was left to dry without
treatment, it would have developed cracks, become deformed, and split
apart. The technology for the scientific preservation of such a large object
anywhere in the world. But 14 years of experimentation and development
has made it possible to exhibit the "Oshura" today.
The "Oshura" measures 8.8 meters and weighs 3.2 metric tons--- And the
people who used it lived about 1500 years ago--- What impressions
do these exhibits evoke in you, a person of the present, accustomed to
the luxury of cars and machinery?
We feel that now, 21 years after the original excavation, is a time when
it is necessary to reflect on the long years of research. And we ask
you to take a long look at the Oshura and associated artifacts
unearthed at the Mitsuzuka tumulus site and consider further the
importance of their observation, excavation, and preservation, as well as
the means of their construction and usage.
Enjoy the exhibition.
＊Event Information＊
April 20 to June 20, 1999
Special Admission:￥600/400
Hours: 10:00 a.m.~4:30 P.m.
1st HISTORY TALK
San. April 25 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Shura introduced on Newspapers and Textbooks -Since it
unearthed at the Mitsuzuka tumulus site, 1978"
Tsunehiko Tsuboi (Commentary writer The Yomiuri Shinbun)
2st HISTORY TALK
San. May 9 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Shura introduced on Newspapers and Textbooks -Since it
unearthed at the Mitsuzuka tumulus site, 1978"
Kiyotari Tsuboi (President The Osaka Center for Cultural Heritage)
3st HISTORY TALK）
San. June 6 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Network of Transportation and Correspondence in the Ancient Chinese Empire-the Qin
and the Han Dynasties"
Osamu Oba (Director CAM)
4st HISTORY TALK
San. June 20 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The Shura and Kofun period"
Hiroshi Tsude (Professor Osaka University)
●SHURA TALK
1stSHURA TALK
Thurs. April 29 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "The carrying and transporting implements in Kofun and Asuka periods"
Toru Iwase and Akira Yamamoto(Curator, CAM)
2st SHURA TALK
San. May 9 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. (free) "What is a Shura?"
Kazumitu Kuroda and Masahiro Miyake(Curator, CAM)
3st SHURA TALK
San. June 13 1:30 p.m. to 4p.m. (free) "The transporting large rocks"
Kazuo Ichinose and Yukikazu Mukai (Curator, CAM)
●Workshop
San. May 2 1:30 p.m. to 4p.m.
"The children's procession sledging Shuras"
San. May 30 and Sat. June 12 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m.
"Making Corridor-style burial chambers from corrugated cardboard"
