Gold Ring
This ring made from pure gold has a surprisingly contemporary feel, and shines brilliantly 1,500 years after it was made. The ring originated on the Korean Peninsula, where similar examples have been found in the royal tombs at Gyeongju, the old capital of the Silla kingdom. The floral and circular patterning on the ring rendered in thin strips of gold demonstrates a high level of technology at the time. Japan’s connections with the Asian continent were crucial to the country’s development, with innovations in everything from metalworking to architecture derived from trade and diplomacy with the Korean Peninsula and China.