What archaeological evidence reveals how music was performed in ancient Japan?

Archaeological evidence provides significant insights into how music was performed in ancient Japan, primarily through artifacts and visual representations from the Yayoi and Tumulus periods.

• Yayoi Period (c. 300 BCE–250 CE): The most notable finds are dōtaku bronze bells. While these were modeled after Chinese musical instruments that were struck to produce scales, archaeological evidence suggests they were not used as instruments in Japan but rather served as talismanic objects representing social and religious power.12
• Tumulus Period (c. 250–500 CE): More direct evidence of musical performance comes from haniwa, which are tomb figurines. These statues depict specific performance practices, such as a figure playing a barrel drum with a stick and another seated with a four- or five-stringed board zither across their lap. Other figurines feature crotal bells on costumes, and some appear to represent singers.1

Additionally, ancient Chinese historical texts, such as the 3rd-century Wei zhi, corroborate these findings by documenting that native Japanese people engaged in singing and dancing during funeral rites.1