Where did the Byodo-in glass come from - Study of the origin of the ancient Japanese glass by on site XRF analysis

我们开发了一种新型便携式X射线荧光光谱仪，用于文化遗产的微量分析。我们用我们原来的XRF光谱仪揭示了古代日本玻璃的化学成分从弥生时期到平安时期的转变。我们在欧亚大陆各国以及日本的博物馆和考古遗址进行了现场分析，以揭示玻璃从西到东经由中亚的分布。我们首次分析了由1万多颗玻璃珠子组成的、被评为日本最崇高的玻璃文化遗产的、供奉于奈良东大寺北海道的福冈神像的皇冠(国家宝藏)，揭示了玻璃成分的转变：皇冠上有三种类型的苏打水硅玻璃和铅玻璃。我们还揭示了古芬、奈良、平安时期铅玻璃向室町时期的转变，这符合我们的研究目的。

We developed a new portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for micro analysis of cultural heritage. We have revealed the transition of chemical compositions of the ancient Japanese glass from Yayoi to Heian periods by using our original XRF spectrometers. We carried out on site analysis at museums and archaeological sites in various countries in Eurasia as well as in Japan to reveal distribution of glass from West to East via Central Asia. We have analyzed for the first time the Crown (National Treasure) of the standing statue of Fukukensaku Kannon, enshrined at the Hokkedo, Todaiji, Nara, which is composed of more than 10 thousands glass beads and rated as the most supreme glass cultural heritage in Japan, revealing a transition of the glass compositions: the crown has three types of soda silica glasses as well as lead glass. We have also revealed the transition of the lead glass in Kofun, Nara, Heian (Byodoin glass) to Muromachi periods, which fulfills the purpose of our study.