縄文土偶

東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum

This figurine, called [dogū], is one of the most famous of its kind in Japan. Its notable features are the large, goggle-like eyes, contorted body, and intricate patterns on the body.This dogu clay figurine was made during the Jomon period. It is one of the most famous dogu figurines in Japan. It was found during the Meiji era and named the 'Dogu with Goggle-shaped Eyes' because its eyes resemble goggles worn to protect the eyes from the glare of snow. However, this is now believed to be just an exaggerated depiction of the eyes. The ears, nose, and mouth are quite small compared to the large eyes. Furthermore, stubby legs and arms are attached to a broad-shouldered torso with a narrow waist. A closer inspection reveals traces of red coloring around the head and so on. It is assumed the entire surface was originally painted red.Dogu figurines are also valuable sources of information about contemporary Jomon fashions. For example, it is thought the crown-shaped projection on the head shows how women wore their hair tied up with a comb attached. The adornments around the neck are also said to represent necklaces and chest ornaments. The enjoyment of this dogu figurine is enhanced by trying to imagine how the Jomon folk used to dress.Dogu figurines emerged during the Incipient Jomon period and they always depicted women. This is apparently because women created and nurtured life, with the figurines subsequently used in rituals to pray for safe births, prosperous descendants, and bounteous harvests.

東京国立博物館,Tokyo National Museum

This dogū clay figurine was made during the Jōmon period, which lasted from around 11,000 BC to the 5th century BC. Dogū depict women and it is thought they were used to pray for a safe birth, the prosperity of one's descendants, or rich harvests. This dogū's large head and thin body prevent it from standing upright, so perhaps it was meant to be held in the hand or placed in something.The name of this dogū derives from its resemblance to a horned owl. The face is fringed by a heart, with the round eyes and mouth represented by thin pasted clay discs. The large protuberances on the head represent a comb and tied-up hair. There are also clay discs pasted onto the large ears. These portray oversized earrings inserted into holes in the ear lobes. Horned owl dogū proliferated in Japan's Tōhoku region from the latter half of the Late Jōmon period to the early half of the Final Jōmon period. A number of clay round earrings have also been found in this area. They come in a variety of sizes, some small and others up to 10 centimeters in diameter, but all were inserted into the ear, just like with this dōgu. In this way, dōgu figurines help us to envisage which fashions and hairstyles were popular back then.

九州国立博物館,Kyushu National Museum

This clay figurine is of a type mostly found in the Tōhoku region in the Late Jōmon period (about 1500–1000 BCE). Commonly seen on clay objects from this period, the lumps of clay that form the chest, as well as the sash-like erased cord markings, have been skillfully applied to this work. These erased cord markings, called surikeshi jōmon, are a decorative pattern identified by the incised lines dividing the cord-marked parts from other places where the cord marks have been smoothed away.The hollowing technique used to create this artifact and another from the Chobonaino site in Hokkaido (a National Treasure currently owned by the Hakodate City Board of Education) was also utilized to enlarge figurines during the same period. A rectangular vent at the back of its head prevented breakage during the firing process. X-ray CT scans have revealed a different, circular hole just below this opening that has been plugged up with clay. Initially, this circular hole may have been created as a gas vent, then later plugged up when it was decided to make the larger, rectangular vent in the figurine.

東京国立博物館