著者

関口 直甫

出版者

日本科学史学会

雑誌

科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.26, no.162, pp.91-102, 1987 (Released:2021-09-21)

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When a bell-shaped bronze is placed with its fins in the east-west line, the directions connecting special combination of two holes point to neibourhood of the equator of the celestial shere. This enables the sun-beam to pass through the bell-shaped bronze on the day of vernal equinox. Its shape suggests that it may be used to determine the date of the vernal equinox of every year. The bell-shaped bronze may be a ritual tool of a ceremony of the vernal equinox day on the Yayoi-era of Japan. The backgrounds of this ritual custum on the social circumstances at the early period of rice production in Japan, are discussed.