Location Hakui History and Folklore Museum
Jike Site Artifact: Agate Magatama, Comma-shaped Beads
- Display status
- On display
- Period
- 9th Century
- Form/Type
- Archaeological material
- Location
- Hakui City
The most distinctive feature of magatama, comma-shaped beads is their unique shape. The “コ” shaped protrusion extending from the ball with a hole in it contains a “wickedness” prayer to keep bad things away, and is one of the tools offered to the gods during festivals.
Three magatama beads were excavated from the Jike Site. There are two stones made of agate and one stone made of talc, which were found along with pottery and bronze mirrors from the 9th century of the Heian period, and are thought to be tools used to worship gods at ancient shrines.
Mirrors, swords and magatama were indispensable tools for divine festivals, as they are also referred to as the “Three Sacred Treasures”. Through examination of the Jike Site, we can begin to uncover some of the ways in which ancient people worshipped gods and offered prayers.
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A local history museum that opened in 1983. They collect materials that convey the history and culture of Hakui City (archaeological materials, historical materials, folk implements, etc.), preserve them, conduct research on them and display them publicly. The folk implements exhibition room on the first floor explains the tools used in Hakui's past way of living. The history exhibition room on the second floor displays valuable excavated items mainly from the Yoshisaki-Suba Site, a Nationally Designated Historic Site, and the Jike Site, as well as historical materials such as ancient documents. They also hold ancient experience classes and events such as magatama (comma-shaped stone bead) making and fire starting experiences. Please feel free to stop by and experience the history of Hakui.
38-1 Tsurutada, Tsurutamachi, Hakui, 925-0027 Google Maps
TEL 0767-22-5998 E-mail post@city.hakui.lg.jp
