上野三碑の時代（群馬県立歴史博物館） The Age of Ueno Three Monuments (Gunma Prefectural Museum of History)

 

群馬県には、7世紀から8世紀にかけて置かれた、山ノ上碑・多胡碑・金井沢碑という3つの石碑が残されている。

それらが、ユネスコの”世界の記憶”に登録されてから5年を迎えたことを記念して開催された展覧会。

その7、8世紀の時代を中心に、群馬県に限らず大和王朝が置かれた奈良や東北地方などの考古学の成果を紹介した、壮大なテーマの展覧会だった。

3つの石碑についてはレプリカでの展示だったが、表面に彫られた文字までよく見ることができた。石碑にはそれを作った人々のことやそれを建てた経緯などが書かれている。

古代の中国では石碑はよく作られて今でも多く残っているが、古代の日本ではいくつか作られたが中国ほどは普及しなかったようだ。

常設展示の会場では、群馬県で発見された巨大な埴輪や黄金の馬具などを見ることができたが、当時の群馬県地方がいかに発達していたかがわかる。

かつて上野国と言われたこの地方は、東北へ向かう東山道の重要な位置にあった。会場には、多賀城、秋田城の出土品や、蝦夷との関係を感じさせる展示品もあり、とても興味深かった。

最後のコーナーでは、上野三碑と同じ時代に作られた高松塚古墳のコロタイプ複製や、正倉院宝物の複製品が展示されていた。

上野三碑に関連する展示と合わせて、一気に古代の日本にタイムスリップした気分になった。

In Gunma Prefecture, there are three stone monuments, the Yamanoue Monument, the Tago Monument, and the Kanaizawa Monument, which were placed from the 7th century to the 8th century.

This exhibition was held to commemorate the five years since they were registered in UNESCO's "Memory of the World."

Focusing on the 7th and 8th centuries, it was an exhibition with a grand theme that introduced the results of archeology not only in Gunma Prefecture, but also in Nara and the Tohoku region, where the Yamato Dynasty was established.

The three stone monuments were displayed as replicas, but I was able to see the characters carved on the surface. The stone monument tells the story of the people who built it and how it was built.

Stone monuments were often made in ancient China and still remain today. But they had not been in popular in Japan.

At the permanent exhibition venue, we were able to see giant clay figures and golden horse harnesses found in Gunma Prefecture, showing how the Gunma region was developed at the time.

This region, which was once called Ueno Province, was in an important position on the Tosando road heading northeast. At the venue, there were excavated items from Tagajo and Akita Castle, as well as exhibits that made us feel the relationship with Ezo, which was very interesting.

In the last corner, a collotype reproduction of the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus, which was made in the same era as the Ueno Sanhi, and a reproduction of the Shosoin Treasure were displayed.

Combined with the exhibits related to the three monuments in Ueno, I felt like I had slipped back in time to ancient Japan.