[Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture] Historic Achievement! The 'Wang Ci' Inscribed Iron Sword Designated as a National Important Cultural Property; Prompt Exhibition Held at Ichihara History Museum

At the national Cultural Affairs Council held on March 26, a recommendation was made to designate the iron sword inscribed with "Wang Ci" (王賜), excavated from the Inaridai No. 1 tomb in our city, as an Important Cultural Property.

As the oldest domestically produced inscribed iron sword in Japan, it is a precious artifact. This is the first archaeological material in the city and the fifth in the prefecture to receive such a prestigious designation.

The Ichihara History Museum is holding a special prompt exhibition for this Important Cultural Property designation. The exhibition showcases the "Wang Ci" inscribed iron sword and explains what it is and what has been discovered about it based on the latest research results.

## Overview of the Designated Archaeological Materials
- Gold-inlaid inscribed iron sword ("Wang Ci" inscribed iron sword) - 1 piece
- Attachments: Assorted metal products, 1 whetstone, 58 pieces of Sueki and Hajiki pottery

### Contents of Attachments
- Metal products
Iron swords, iron blades, gilt-bronze armor, knives, iron arrowheads, quivers, scrapers, etc.
- Whetstone
- Sueki pottery
Cups, Hasou (vessels), uncovered footed cups, jars
- Hajiki pottery
Pots, cups, footed cups

* "Attachments" refer to materials that supplement and strengthen the value of the main designated cultural property, becoming part of the Important Cultural Property. The artifact cluster excavated together was targeted because it is a vital key in elucidating the era of the "Wang Ci" sword and its connection to the Yamato Kingship.

## Value as an Important Cultural Property
The "Wang Ci" iron sword features characters expressed in gold: "Wang Ci [][] Jing [] (An)" on one side and "Ci Ting [][][][]" on the other. It means, "The King bestows this splendid iron sword, hold it with reverence," indicating a connection between the "King" of the Yamato Kingship and Ichihara. There are 7 other examples of inscribed swords excavated in domestic archaeological surveys, but the "Wang Ci" iron sword is the oldest example produced in Japan, and it has been revealed that it was a custom-made item rather than a practical mass-produced product.

Grave goods from the Inaridai No. 1 tomb, including the "Wang Ci" iron sword, are thought to be items given by the Yamato Kingship to the influential figures who governed the land of Ichihara. The connection between the Yamato Kingship at the time and local leaders...