In the news: The oldest stringed instrument in the world from the ruins of Korekawa-nakai

Koto-shaped wooden implement excavated from the Korekawa-Nakai ruins. Source: Hachinobe Board-of-education (Photograph: Hiroki Matsukura) 

The oldest stringed instrument in the world  from the ruins of Korekawa-nakai (2012/03/22 16:25)

The  箆 (へら/hera; also loosely translated as nogata arrowhead-shaped spatula)shaped wooden board implements of the Late Jomon period  excavated from the ruins of the Korekawa-nakai site (Hachinohe, in Aomori prefecture) are the “oldest” stringed instruments in the world.

64-year-old, guest researcher, Mr SUZUKI Katsuhiko, head of the Hirosaki Gakuin College’s Area Comprehensive Cultural Research Center, has summarized the research findings as follows:

According to the current consensus theory, the “koto” was supposedly introduced into Japan from China during the Yayoi period.

However, Mr. Suzuki, the researcher states these wooden implements are “Jomon koto”, not Yayoi koto, and has developed his own theory.

The said ruins yielded eighteen “hera”, i.e. arrowhead-shaped wooden implements, from the site excavations in 1926 and two, in 2002.

There are, however, various alternative theories of the possible usage of the wooden implement. Some say, it may have been a stringed musical instrument theory, others believe it might have functioned as a weaving implement.

Mr. Suzuki, had undertaken a joint research project in 2009 with eighty-one-year old Director SASAMORI Takefusa, head of musicology studies (in the aforesaid Hirosaki Gakuin College). He created a survey map from a photograph of the “koto”, and built a replica out of “hiba” wood, and using hair and hemp, etc., for the strings…, then playing and sounding out music on the replica instrument.

Although the pitch of such an instrument may differ with the size of wood, quality of the bowstrings, the volume of the sound, it is said, did not vary much — thus strengthening the theory that it functioned as a musical instrument.

The average length of instrument is 55 cm. Researcher, Suzuki deduces from this fact, that it was “played by resting it on the lap”.

It was said that the oldest stringed instrument in the world was the “shitsu” (a ten-stringed instrument and proto-type of the koto, was excavated from China’s Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng dated to the 5th Century B.C).

A fragment of “hera” arrowhead-shaped wooden implement was also recovered from the Oshoro-dojo-iseki ruins in Otaru city, Hokkaido, which is dated older than the Korekawa-nagai-iseki ruins.

[Translation by Heritage of Japan]

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Original text in Japanese:

是川中居遺跡から“世界最古”の弦楽器？（2012/03/22 16:25）

是川中居遺跡（八戸市）で出土した縄文時代晩期の箆（へら）形木製品は“世界最古”の弦楽器―。弘前学院大学地域総合文化研究所の鈴木克彦客員研究員（６４）＝考古学＝らが２１日までに、こんな研究結果をまとめた。琴は弥生時代に中国から日本に伝来したというのが通説だが、鈴木研究員はこの木製品を「縄文琴」と名付け、持論を展開している。 同遺跡では箆形木製品が１９２６年に１８点、２００２年に２点出土。ただ、用途は弦楽器説のほかに機織り具説など諸説がある。 鈴木研究員は０９年から同研究所の笹森建英所長（８１）＝音楽学＝と共同研究。写真から実測図を作成、ヒバ材でレプリカを製作し、麻や毛髪などを弦に、実際に鳴らしてみた。 木製品の大きさや弦の材質で音の高さは異なるが、音量はさほど変化せず、楽器との見方を強めたという。木製品の長さは平均５５センチ。鈴木研究員は「膝などに乗せて弾いたのでは」と推定する。 世界的に最古といわれる弦楽器は、紀元前５世紀の中国「曾侯乙墓」から出土した１０弦の瑟（しつ）とされる。 箆形木製品の一部は、是川中居遺跡より古い縄文時代後期中葉の忍路土場遺跡（北海道小樽市）などでも見つかっており、鈴木研究員はまとめて「縄文琴」と呼んでいる。（松倉宏樹） 【写真説明】 是川中居遺跡から出土した箆形木製品＝八戸市教委提供

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Further readings:

Music and musical instruments the Jomon people made – this article (by this site) features a Jomon musical instrument also thought to have produced koto-like sounds, that was excavated from Matsubaranaiko site, Shiga prefecture. Strings are strung through the 4 holes at the tip.

Origin of the koto (and kayagum) music instrument.