“A dedication from Chōri-no-hōshi to his mother,” is etched into the stone before us. We stand before the \u7687\u592a\u5b50\u6bbf\u4e0b\u5fa1\u8a95\u751f\u8a18\u5ff5 Stele. Its story echoes from the Asuka period. This isn’t just any stone. It’s a time capsule connecting us to 7th-century Japan.
The \u7687\u592a\u5b50\u6bbf\u4e0b\u5fa1\u8a95\u751f\u8a18\u5ff5 Stele marks a significant point. Erected in 681, it stands as a testament to familial devotion and emerging literacy. It also provides a window into the era’s cultural exchanges.
Imagine a Japan still absorbing influences from Korea and China. The practice of erecting stelae came from the Korean Peninsula and Tang China. Yet, it never became as widespread as in those countries. Writing remained largely for the elite. Only eighteen stelae from the 7th to 11th centuries exist in Japan.
The \u7687\u592a\u5b50\u6bbf\u4e0b\u5fa1\u8a95\u751f\u8a18\u5ff5 Stele, like the Yamanoue Stele, is a unique relic. It’s made of andesite. The monument stands just over a meter tall. The inscription features 53 kanji characters arranged in four vertical rows.
Monk Chōri-no-hōshi commissioned it in honor of his late mother, Kurome-no-toji. The inscription details his maternal and paternal ancestors. What makes it special? The text uses Chinese characters but follows Japanese grammar. It is a very early example of written Japanese.
The \u7687\u592a\u5b50\u6bbf\u4e0b\u5fa1\u8a95\u751f\u8a18\u5ff5 Stele shares similarities with stelae from the Silla kingdom of Korea. This suggests contact and influence from immigrants. Some immigrants brought advanced technologies to Japan.
Initially, the \u7687\u592a\u5b50\u6bbf\u4e0b\u5fa1\u8a95\u751f\u8a18\u5ff5 Stele was housed in a temple, Kannon Bosatsu. Later, the government purchased the land. They placed it on a new base stone and built a structure to protect it.
The adjacent Yamanoue Kofun is another point of interest. This burial mound may be Kurome-no-toji’s tomb. It’s a typical late Kofun period tumulus. No grave goods have been found.
Consider this. You’re standing before a monument. It bridges language, culture, and time. The \u7687\u592a\u5b50\u6bbf\u4e0b\u5fa1\u8a95\u751f\u8a18\u5ff5 Stele is more than just stone. It whispers stories of family, faith, and the dawn of written Japanese.