Archaeology and History of Toraijin: Human, technological, and cultural flow from the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese Archipelago c. 800 BC-AD 600 explores the fundamental role in the history of the Japanese archipelago played by Toraijin - immigrants mainly from the Korean Peninsula - during this formative period. The arrival of immigrant rice-agriculturalists from the peninsula in the early first millennium BC was the first of three major waves of technological transfer between the continent and the islands. The second brought bronze and iron-working to the archipelago around the 4th century BC, and the third brought elite crafts and administrative technology as well as Confucianism and Buddhism in the 5th and 6th centuries AD.

In light of the recently uncovered archaeological data and ancient historical records, this book presents a panoramic bird's eye view of the fourteen centuries-long Toraijin story, from c. 800~600 BC to AD 600 or thereabouts by answering the following seven questions: Where did the Toraijin come from? What was their historical and socio-cultural background? Why did they leave their homeland? Where did they settle in the Archipelago? What did they do in the Archipelago? How did the Archipelago people treat the Toraijin? What contributions did the Toraijin make to the ancient Japanese society?

About the Author
Song-nai Rhee is Academic Vice President/Dean Emeritus and Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at Bushnell University, Eugene, OR and Courtesy Research Professor in the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, University of Oregon. His research interests include East Asian history and archaeology; emerging complex society in ancient Korea and Japan; history and archaeology of the Toraijin; archaeology and ancient history of Israel and the Near East; Jewish history; origins and evolution of fortification systems in the Levant. ;

C. Melvin Aikens is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oregon and Emeritus Director of the Natural and Cultural History Museum, University of Oregon. His research interests include: archaeology and ancient History of Pacific Northeast Asia; prehistory and protohistory of Korea and Japan; transnational cultural interactions in the Japan Oikumene; archaeology of the Great Basin; Oregon archaeology. ;

Gina L. Barnes, is Professor Emeritus of Japanese Studies, Durham University, Project Affiliate, Earth Sciences, Durham University, and Professorial Research Associate in the Department of History of Art and Archaeology, SOAS University of London. Her Research interests include: archaeology and ancient history of East Asia with a special emphasis on Japan and Korea; state formation in Korea and Japan; ancient Korea-Japan relations; emergence of Yamato kingship; Japanese geology; tectonic archaeology.

Reviews

'... it is an ambitious project to cover 1400 years of the dynamic socio-cultural developments from the Bronze Age to the state formation and early states period of Korea and Japan, including the Kofun and Three Kingdoms period, with 200 pages and 60 illustrations and maps. Nevertheless, beyond any doubt, this monograph is of extraordinary value and significance as the only book in the English language focused on the role of the Toraijin in the emergence of a complex society and early state during Japan's formative period. The scholarly/academic significance of this book may be likened to that of 'Archaeology of Ancient China' by K. C. Chang (Yale U. Press (1963, 1986) and 'Prehistory of Japan' by Higuchi and Aikens (Academic Press, 1982), which, for many decades, have exerted overwhelming influence on the international scholarly community on the understanding of Chinese and Japanese archaeology respectively.' - Prof. Gyeong-taek Kim (2021): Journal of Ancient Korean Historical Society

"This is a fascinating and most comprehensive research on the important topic."- Dr Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney (2021)

"This well detailed study of the toraijin should give many cause to rethink their assumptions regarding the substance and character of early relations between the peoples of Korea and Japan." - Dr Jonathan Best (2021)

'In my opinion as a historian of early Korea, the ideal target audience for Archaeology and History of Toraijin includes graduate students and professional researchers of early Korea and early Japan. For Koreanists, it is a must-read for anyone working on the archaeology, history, and legacy of the Kaya states and Paekche. For Japanologists, it should be required reading for those working on and teaching about premodern Japan.' - Richard D. McBride II (2023): Monumenta Nipponica, MN 77:2

'...this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of early East Asian history or in the history of Japanese-Korean relations.' - David Weiss (2023): The Journal of Japanese Studies Volume 49

Book Information
ISBN 9781789699661
Author Song-nai Rhee
Format Paperback
Page Count 242
Imprint Archaeopress
Publisher Archaeopress
Weight(grams) 686g