Coexistence, Equitable Living, and the Transition to Settled Life in Ancient Japan

Regarding the Jomon period (14,000 B.C. – 300 B.C.) in Japan, the prevailing perspective suggests that the ancient Japanese people transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one, forming small villages. During this time, they made concerted efforts to avoid conflicts or wars. Remarkably, archaeologists have not found almost any distinctive evidence (e.g., weapons, remains destroyed in battle, walled settlements) in over 90,000 Jomon-period archaeological sites throughout Japan. It is widely believed that the ancient Jomon people, who encompassed diverse roles as hunter-gatherers and early agriculturalists, upheld a fundamental principle of coexistence with nature. They practiced the equitable distribution of resources and harvests among village members, with little to no differentiation in social status or class. This approach starkly contrasts with the values of contemporary society, which often places an overwhelming emphasis on economic efficiency and individualism.

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