"Here's Permanent Exhibition Map!"
From the Nara Period to the Heian Period (8 c--12 c A.D.), advanced culture from the Asian Continent was introduced by monks who studied in China and by Kentoshi (Japanese envoys to China during the Tang Dynasty).
The Korokan (Tsukushi-no-murotsumi), a diplomatic institution in Dazaifu, acted as a window for such exchanges. It was built on the hill where the present Fukuoka Castle Ruins are found.

　

2-1. Times of Korokan; Korokan and Dazaifu
The Korokan was built at Hakata, the outer port for Dazaifu which was the center of Western Japan in those days.

　

2-2. Model of the Korokan Ruins
The Korokan acted first as a guest house and later became a trading post for Chinese merchants. Today, the ruins are still undergoing excavation.

　

2-3. Kentoshi; Students and Monks Studying Abroad; Model of a Kentoshi Ship
From the 7th to 9th centuries, Japan sent many envoys Tang (China) as often as over ten times for the purpose of learning and introducing advanced continental culture in Japan.

　

2-4. Distribution of Ceramics; The Nara to Heian Periods
Around the end of Tang Dynasty (China), ceramics began to be produced for export and were brought to Hakata by Chinese merchants.