企画展　埴輪の顔面

和田芳吉氏寄贈,東京国立博物館

東京国立博物館

東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum

<p>いわゆる踊る人々と同じ古墳から出土した人物像です。これらの他に馬や矛などの埴輪も出土しています。振分け髪で下げ美豆良を表現した男子は中心人物となる可能性があります。笠を被った男子は踊る人々と同様に目や口が丸く開けられています。<br /></p>

九州国立博物館

<p>古墳に立て並べられた人物埴輪で、右手を腰帯に当て、左手で小壺を持つ上半身の女性像である。基台の最下部や左腕の一部などに欠損が認められるほか、頭部はすべて後補の可能性が高い。両肩にたすきをかけ、腰には腰帯を表現し中央で留め、右手を帯に添える。左手は横に伸ばし、掌に小壺をつかむ。群馬県荒砥町（現在の前橋市内）出土と伝わる。</p>

東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum

<p>Haniwa are terracotta tomb sculptures placed on or around the tumuli of powerful figures in Japan from the 3rd to the 6th century. Human-shaped haniwa proliferated in the 6th century, with shield-bearing figurines like this playing the role of tomb guards. Shield-bearing haniwa have been found all across Japan, with most of them placed around the perimeter of tumuli rather than inside. Their job was probably to prevent evil from entering the tombs. They are characterized by their expressive facial features. The large ears seem to be listening for any unusual activity nearby, for example. Many also have smiling faces like this one, while others have open-eyed, startled features or threatening countenances. Perhaps smiling or angry expressions were believed to ward off evil spirits. <br /><br />The status of haniwa is revealed by the way their bodies are depicted. Haniwa with arms and legs represent high-ranking figures like kings or priestesses. Next up are haniwa with arms but no legs, while the lowest ranked haniwa are given neither arms nor legs. These shield-bearing haniwa are also limbless, so they probably had a low status. Early examples had clearly-defined shields, but the shield depictions were simplified as the original forms were copied down the ages. Eventually, the guards went from holding shields to seeming part of the shield itself, with these later haniwa guarding the tumuli with their entire bodies.</p>

東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum

<p>This haniwa, or terracotta tomb figurine, splendidly portrays a monkey in mid-movement, as if startled by a sound.<br />As both arms and the lower half of the body are missing, the figurine's original shape is a mystery. However, a large mark indicates something was attached to the back, so it is thought this monkey may have once carried a baby. If this is the case, then perhaps the monkey is turning its face to the side to look at its child. Maybe this is a depiction of a mother caring for her young.<br />The face creates a striking impression with its overhanging forehead, childlike mouth, wide, almond-shaped eyes, and upper lip extending down from the small nose. The face is still tinged with a faint redness, too. All in all, the figurine brilliantly captures the characteristics of a monkey, despite its simplified, unsophisticated shape. No other monkey-shaped haniwa have been found, so this piece is also extremely valuable for the study of diversity in haniwa.<br />This figurine is attributed to the Okisu Dainichizuka Tumulus – scallop-shaped tumulus around 40 meters in length. A horizontal stone chamber, made of a rock called mica schist, still exists at the site today.<br /></p><br /><p>Tomb sculptures depicting monkeys are extremely rare. Traces on this monkey's back suggest it once carried a baby, which is now lost. The head is slightly turned as if to check on its baby. The maker deftly portrayed the expression of this mother monkey.</p>

東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum

<p>Roosters were regarded by ancient people of Japan as sacred birds. They were believed to bring light into the world, for they crowed at dawn, signaling the arrival of the morning. </p>