Ryūsui-mon Dōtaku: National Treasure Bronze Bells with Flowing Water Patterns

Hidden for nearly two thousand years beneath the slopes of Mount Rokko in Kobe, a remarkable group of bronze bells known as the Ryūsui-mon Dōtaku (流水文銅鐸, "Flowing Water Pattern Bronze Bells") offers an extraordinary window into the spiritual and everyday lives of Japan's Yayoi-period communities. These three bronze bells, part of the larger Sakuragaoka Bronze Bells and Bronze Halberds collection designated as a National Treasure, are among the most important archaeological artifacts ever discovered in Japan. Today, they can be admired at the Kobe City Museum, located in the city's elegant former foreign settlement district.

What Are the Ryūsui-mon Dōtaku?

Dōtaku are hanging bell-shaped bronze ritual objects produced during the Yayoi period (approximately 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD). They were used as sacred instruments in agricultural ceremonies, believed to be rung to pray for bountiful harvests. The Ryūsui-mon Dōtaku specifically refers to three of the fourteen bronze bells (No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3) unearthed from the Sakuragaoka site in Kobe's Nada Ward. These three bells are distinguished by their elegant flowing water patterns—sinuous, wave-like designs cast onto their surfaces—which give them their name.

The flowing water motif (ryūsui-mon) is thought to derive from patterns found on Yayoi-period pottery in the Kinai region, adapted and refined for the curved surfaces of the bronze bells. The result is a strikingly beautiful decorative style that sets these bells apart from the more common kesa-dasuki (Buddhist stole-like lattice) pattern found on the other eleven bells in the Sakuragaoka group.

The Dramatic Discovery at Sakuragaoka

On December 10, 1964, workers extracting clay for house construction on a hillside in Sakuragaoka-chō, Nada Ward, Kobe, made an astonishing find. At an elevation of approximately 243 meters on the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain range, they unearthed fourteen bronze bells and seven bronze halberds (dōka) that had been deliberately buried together roughly two thousand years ago.

The discovery site was a remote, steep slope facing northeast, with limited visibility—only a partial view toward present-day Ashiya could be seen from the spot. This secluded location is consistent with the theory that dōtaku were intentionally buried away from settlements, possibly as part of ritual practices marking the conclusion of ceremonial use or as offerings to the earth.

The find was extraordinary for several reasons: it was one of the largest single deposits of bronze bells ever discovered in Japan, second only to the Kamo-Iwakura site in Shimane Prefecture (39 bells) and the Ōiwayama site in Shiga Prefecture (24 bells). The combination of bronze bells with bronze halberds was particularly rare and significant for understanding Yayoi-period ritual practices.

Why Were They Designated a National Treasure?

The Sakuragaoka Bronze Bells and Bronze Halberds were first designated as an Important Cultural Property in June 1969, then elevated to National Treasure status on May 25, 1970. The designation recognized several exceptional qualities of this collection.

First, the sheer number of bells found together—fourteen in total—provides invaluable evidence about the practice of communal ritual burial. The bells vary in size, type, and manufacturing period, suggesting that multiple communities may have contributed their sacred bells to a shared burial site. This offers rare insight into inter-community religious cooperation during the Yayoi period.

Second, among the fourteen bells, four (No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5) bear pictorial scenes cast onto their surfaces. These depictions of humans, deer, dragonflies, crabs, frogs, turtles, praying mantises, spiders, and other creatures are considered among the oldest narrative illustrations in Japanese art history. The scenes portray hunting, grain threshing, and interactions with nature—vivid snapshots of daily Yayoi life.

Third, the Ryūsui-mon Dōtaku (bells No. 1–3) are linked through "dōhan" (same-mold) relationships to bells discovered at distant sites across western Japan, including Shimane, Shiga, Tottori, and Osaka prefectures. This evidence of shared molds reveals sophisticated networks of bronze casting and distribution spanning hundreds of kilometers, illuminating the technological and social connections of Yayoi-period Japan.

Highlights and What to Look For

When visiting the Kobe City Museum, there are several features of the Ryūsui-mon Dōtaku that deserve special attention.

The Museum Building: A Cultural Heritage in Its Own Right

The Kobe City Museum itself occupies a historically significant building. Designed by architect Sakurai Kotarō and completed in 1935, it originally served as the Kobe branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank. The building features an impressive neoclassical façade with Doric-style columns stretching approximately 50 meters. Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 1998, the building beautifully complements the ancient treasures it houses, creating a layered experience of Japanese architectural and cultural heritage.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

The Kobe City Museum is located in the Kobe Former Foreign Settlement (Kyū-kyoryūchi) district, one of Japan's most attractive urban neighborhoods. After your museum visit, consider exploring some of these nearby attractions.

• Kobe Former Foreign Settlement — The streets surrounding the museum are lined with beautifully preserved Western-style buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, now home to boutiques, cafés, and galleries. A stroll through this area offers a glimpse into Kobe's cosmopolitan history as an international port city.
• Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown) — Just a short walk west, Kobe's vibrant Chinatown offers an array of Chinese cuisine, street food, and cultural experiences.
• Meriken Park and Kobe Port Tower — A pleasant walk south brings you to the waterfront, where you can enjoy views of Kobe's harbor, the iconic Port Tower, and the Kobe Maritime Museum.
• Ikuta Shrine — One of the oldest shrines in Japan, located a short walk north, providing a contrast between Yayoi-period ritual culture and later Shinto traditions.
• Mount Rokko — The mountain range where the Sakuragaoka bells were discovered offers hiking trails, panoramic views, and seasonal attractions. The actual discovery site in Nada Ward has been marked with an explanatory sign.