Prehistoric Bronze Bells from Japan. 35 



II. — Prehistoric Bronze Bells from Japan. 



(With Plate II.) 



By HENBY S. MTJNIiOE, E.M. 



Bead February 5th, 1877. 



In this paper I would bring- to the notice of the members 

 of the Academy, especially those interested in archaeology, 

 specimens of a peculiar form of bronze bell common in Japan. 

 These bells are undoubtedly of very ancient origin; and it 

 seems probable, from the statements of Japanese antiquarians, 

 that they belong to a prehistoric bronze age. . 



My attention was first called to these peculiar bells by a 

 communication from the Japanese Governor of Hiogo Ken, 

 Mr. Kanda Takakira, addressed to Sir Harry Parkes, British 

 Minister to Japan, and read by that gentleman at a meeting 

 of the Asiatic Society of Japan* in October, 1875. Accom- 

 panying the letter was a bell, about a foot in height, similar 

 in form and ornamentation to those figured in the accompany- 

 ing plate. 



Stone implements, pottery, and articles of copper and 

 bronze, are frequently exhumed in Japan ; and these relics 

 have always been the object of much inquiry and speculation 

 on the part of Japanese antiquarians. Among stone imple- 

 ments, I have seen, in the shops and museums of Tokio, arrow 

 heads, axes, and cutting tools of various kinds, both wrought 

 and polished ; and of bronze articles, swords and spear heads 

 of elaborate design, and numerous specimens of the peculiar 

 form of bell which is the subject of the present paper. 



Without further preface, I give herewith a copy of Gover- 

 nor Kanda's letter, taken from the columns of the Japan 

 Weekly Mail : 



GOVERNOR KANDA TO SIR HARRY PARKES. . 



These copper bells are all of a description that has fre- 

 quently been dug out of the ground in Japan. There are no 

 trustworthy traditions with regard to the use to which they 

 were put in very ancient times. One report is to the effect 

 that they were suspended from the, corners of the roofs of 



