Corps seals excavation site (Mikasa corps seal, Oka corps seal)
| Location | City of Dazaifu |
|---|---|
| Designation | Undesignated・national important cultural property（Ancient Document） |
| Emblem |  |
In Chikuzen-koku Province, where Dazaifu was located, there were four corps deployed. This is where the bronze seals of two of them (the Mikasa Corps Seal and Oka Corps Seal) were discovered. Both are nationally important cultural properties. This site stands at the northwestern edge of the Dazaifu Jobo, and the seals tell us that corps were stationed here to protect Dazaifu and Chikuzen-koku Province.
An Corps Guarding Ancient Dazaifu
Long ago, each province of Japan had its own corps, and there were four corps in Chikuzen Province. It was decided that one out of every three healthy adult men between the ages of 21 and 60 would be drafted as soldiers in the corps, and each of the four corps of Chikuzen Province consisted of 1,000 men. Though the names of these corps were unknown, the “Mikasa Corps Seal” was discovered in a hill about 600 meters northwest of the Dazaifu Government Office and the “Oka Corps Seal” on the premises of Mizuki Elementary School about 600 meters west of the Government Office, revealing the names of two of these corps. “Mikasa” is the name of the area around Dazaifu, while “Onga” is then name of a region in northern Fukuoka Prefecture. Both corps seals are housed in the Tokyo National Museum. *The excavation site where the Oka Corps Seal was found is within an elementary school and is not open to the general public.
Dazaifu City Characters/Tabito the Traveler, Otomo no Tabitto, Princess Reiwa
The sites where the Mikasa Corps Seal and the Oka Corps Seal were excavated are in the northwest part of the Dazaifu grid.
While their corps bases are still unknown, they are presumed to be in this area. The topography of this area consists of ridges and valleys stretching from Mount Shioji, suggesting that these natural strongholds to place corps and protect Dazaifu.
Access Information
Address
Mikasa Corps Seal Excavation Site: 818-0133 2-23-15 Sakamoto, Dazaifu, Fukuoka
By Train
About 13 min on foot from Nishitetsu Tofuromae Station
About the Western Capital
The “Western Capital”, created in Tsukushi 1300 years ago. Cultural assets speaking to the magnificence of this city of international exchange that flourished in East Asia are scattered across the cities of Chikushino, Kasuga, Onojo, Dazaifu, Nakagawa, and Umi in Fukuoka Prefecture as well as the town of Kiyama in Saga Prefecture.