Gold Culture in Japanese Feudal Society

The study of gold culture in Japanese feudal society reveals a historical development closely associated with power structures, wartime strategies, court ceremonial systems and economic conditions across different periods. Gold was not merely valued as a precious metal or monetary commodity, but functioned as “symbolic and political capital” to reinforce loyalty, legitimacy, social hierarchy and the authoritative image of the ruling class. Through the chronological contexts of the Tenshō Period (1573–1592), Genbun Period (1736–1741), and Tenpō Period (1830–1844), the functions of gold evolved from a strategic wartime resource to a ceremonial object of aristocratic status and eventually to a symbolic instrument of political image during economic decline. The referenced objects for this study are replica sets produced during the Late Showa Period (1970–1985), serving educational and cultural interpretation purposes while reflecting modern Japanese interest in historical preservation and knowledge transmission.