A Ceramic Jar of Bronze Coins from a 15th-Century Samurai Residence Near Tokyo
(Courtesy Saitama Cultural Deposits Research Corporation)
In 2018, in a quaint town just north of Tokyo, an extraordinary discovery brought the echoes of the past into the present. Archaeologists unearthed a ceramic jar brimming with thousands of bronze coins, carefully hidden centuries ago at the site of a fifteenth-century samurai residence. This find sheds new light on Japan’s medieval period, offering valuable clues about the lives, practices, and values of the warrior class in feudal Japan.
The Samurai and Their Times
The 15th century was a turbulent era in Japan, marked by the constant clash of feudal lords, known as daimyos, who commanded legions of samurai warriors. This period, known as the Sengoku or “Warring States” period, was characterized by fierce battles for power, territory, and prestige. The samurai were not just warriors; they were landowners and noblemen who led disciplined lives adhering to a code known as bushido, or “the way of the warrior.” This code emphasized loyalty, honor, and martial prowess.
The residence where the coins were discovered likely belonged to a samurai of some status, possibly one who had served a local lord or daimyo. The bronze coins, stashed and preserved in a humble ceramic jar, could have been accumulated over many years, perhaps as an emergency fund or a store of wealth, concealed for security.
Left to right: ceramic jar, jar with coins, and wooden tablet. (Courtesy Saitama Cultural Deposits Research Corporation)
Bronze Coins: Insights into Samurai Wealth
The bronze coins found in the ceramic jar were minted in various regions and during different periods, suggesting that they were gradually amᴀssed over the years. In Japan, coins during the 15th century were often imported from China, as domestic coinage was limited. Thus, the contents of the jar hint at a flourishing trade network with the Asian mainland and the samurai’s access to such goods.
The sheer number of coins—thousands packed into a single vessel—indicates the samurai class’s reliance on coinage for trade, payments, and as a medium of exchange in a society that was still largely agrarian. Though they were warriors, samurai had land holdings that often required them to engage in trade or agriculture, and currency was crucial in maintaining their estates and securing the loyalty of retainers and workers.
