National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　This jar was used as a container of a fragrant material called "Choji" (clove). Letters in black ink saying "Nine sun in height" and "Buddha" can be seen on the shoulder. There is a description saying "Choji-ko 84 ryo for Buddha" in "Horyu-ji Garanengi-narabini-rukishizaicho" (the Composite Register of the History and Materials of the Horyu-ji Temple Complex) in Tenpyo 19 (747) and thus it is thought that the letters on the shoulder may refer to that description. This jar is very famous as the world's oldest ceramic jar handed down up to now with a history that has been identified. This jar is celadon porcelain ware, which is descended from so-called Koetsuji (old Yuezhou ware) as it has a disc-shaped mouth and a pair of ears on both shoulders. It seems to have been produced in or around Zhejiang Province.