Dawn of Japan ─ Emperor Jimmu With His Gods and Warriors on Third-Century Bronze Mirrors

A Japanese scholar of antiquity and a European scholar of archaic warfare team up to show how seven narrative bronze mirrors from the third century reveal much about early Japanese history, art, and religion. They focus particularly on the Shuryo-mon-kyo (Hunting Pattern Mirror), which they call Jimmu's Mirror, the richest and most striking. They argue that the scene depicts a war dance not a hunt, and probably represents warriors of the Yamato rulers, who were just at that time establishing their long-lasting sway. They discuss the mirror, the mirror's tale confirmed by Kofun art, sea-dance mirrors, gods and myths, warriors, and Jimmu as the founder of Japan. Color photographs of the mirrors and details are provided. Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contributor Biography - German Michael P. SpeidelJahrgang 1937, promovierte 1962 in alter Geschichte in Freiburg i.Br. und lehrt dieses Fach seit 1968 an der Universitat Hawaii. Korrespondierendes Mitglied des Deutschen Archaologischen Instituts, Verfasser von mehr als zwolf Buchern. Forschungsschwerpunkt: Kriegereliten archaischer Epochen.Tomoko FukushimaBaccalaureat in japanischer Literatur, Showa Women's University, Tokyo. Magister in alter Geschichte und Doktorkandidat, Universitat Hawaii. Contributor Biography - English Michael P. Speidelborn 1937, received his PhD in ancient history at the University of Freiburg/Germany. Since 1968 he teaches ancient history at the University of Hawaii. A Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute with more than a dozen books to his credit, he researches warrior elites of archaic societies.Tomoko Fukushima received her Bachelor's degree in Japanese literature at Showa Women's University, Tokyo, and her Master's degree in ancient history at the University of Hawaii. She currently works toward her PhD in ancient history at the University of Hawaii.