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Date : July 29, 2010 Valid until : February 21, 2010 |
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Agency for Cultural Affairs Overseas Exhibition
THE POWER OF DOGU
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Room T5, Honkan
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - Sunday, February 21, 2010 |
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Left: Jomon Venus
Middle Jomon period (3000-2000 BC)
Tanabatake site, Chino-shi, Nagano
National Treasure
Chino City Board of Education, Nagano
Center: Dogu with Palms Together
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Kazahari site 1, Hachinohe-shi, Aomori
National Treasure
Hachinohe City, Aomori
Right: Hollow Dogu
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Chobonaino site, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido
National Treasure
Hakodate City Board of Education, Hokkaido
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Dogu, ceramic figures made in the Jomon period (10000 B.C. - 5th century B.C.), are highly respected worldwide as an art representing the spirituality and the faith of people who lived during the Jomon period. Dogu are also known as "figures of prayer" and are found in a variety of different shapes which depict figures with upstretched hands, pregnant women close to giving birth, and figures with extremely large faces.
This exhibition will be held to commemorate the return of the "THE POWER OF DOGU" exhibition to Japan after its showing at the British Museum in the U.K. (September 10 - November 22, 2009). The exhibition consists of 67 objects including three designated national treasures and a number of important cultural properties and important art objects. Japan's most important dogu from the early Jomon period to the mid-Yayoi period will be presented with their relevant materials, giving a deep insight into the birth, growth and decline of dogu as well as focusing on the rich character and beauty of their form.
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 General Information
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| Period |
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - Sunday, February 21, 2010 |
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| Venue |
Room T5, Honkan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park) |
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| Hours |
9:30 - 17:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
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| Closed |
Mondays (except for Monday, January 11) (Closed on Tuesday, January 12)
* Monday, December 28, 2009 - Friday, January 1, 2010 |
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| Admissions |
Adults: 800 (700) yen
University students: 600 (500) yen
High school students: 400 (300) yen
Junior high school students and under: Free
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Price shown in ( ) indicates advance and group (more than 20 persons) discount tickets. |
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Persons with physical or mental disabilities receive free entry together with one accompanying guest each |
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Advance tickets are on sale at the Museum ticket office (during museum hours) and e-Ticket Pia (P-code:688-843), Lawson Ticket (L-code:38841), E-Plus and other major ticket offices, until Monday, December 14, 2009. |
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| Access |
10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station
15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station |
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| Organizer |
Agency of Cultural Affairs, Tokyo National Museum, NHK, NHK Promotions, The Mainichi Newspapers
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| With Sponsorship of |
Nissha Printing Co., Ltd |
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| General Inquiries |
03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial) |
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| Related events (In Japanese) |
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Commemorative lecture (application required)
"The Birth and Development of Jomon Dogu Figures, and the Appeal of their Unique Forms" |
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Saturday, February 6, 2010, 13:30 - 15:00, Auditorium, Heiseikan
Lecture by: Harada Masayuki, Senior Specialist(Archaeology) Fine Arts Division, Ageicy for Curtural Affairs
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Gallery Talk |
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"The Power of Dogu"
Thursday, December 17, 2009, 15:30, Room 20, Honkan
Lecture by: Inoue Yoichi, Senior Curator of Japanese Archaeology
"Dogu Figures and Jomon Clay Masks"
Thursday, January 21, 2010, 15:30, Room 20, Honkan
Lecture by: Shinagawa Yoshiya, Assistant Curator of Japanese Archaeology
"The Decline of Dogu and Beyond"
Thursday, February 4, 2010, 15:30, Room 20, Honkan
Lecture by: Hidaka Shin, Curator of Japanese Archaeology
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| Highlight of the Exhibition |
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A Rare Chance to See All Three National Treasure - Designated Dogu |
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Approximately 18,000 dogu have been discovered so far, out of which only three have been designated as national treasures. This exhibition marks the first time for the three national treasure dogu to be displayed all at once. The strong personality of these dogu ranks them at the top of their genre, expressing Jomon people's spirituality and their powerful sense of form and aesthetics. |
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Hollow Dogu
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Chobonaino site, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido
National treasure
Hakodate City Board of Education, Hokkaido
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Dogu with Palms Together
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Kazahari site 1, Hachinohe-shi, Aomori
National treasure
Hachinohe City, Aomori |
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Jomon Venus
Middle Jomon period (3000-2000 BC)
Tanabatake site, Chino-shi, Nagano
National Treasure
Chino City Board of Education, Nagano |
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Cruciform Dogu
Middle Jomon period (3000-2000 BC)
Sannai Maruyama site, Aomori-shi, Aomori
Important Cultural Property
Cultural Property Preservation Division, Aomori Prefectural Goverment
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Standing Dogu
Middle Jomon period (3000-2000 BC)
Nishinomae site, Funagata-machi, Yamagata
Important Cultural Property
Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education
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Dogu
Middle Jomon period (3000-2000 BC)
Kamikurokoma, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi
Tokyo National Museum
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Dogu with Heart-Shaped Face
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Gohara, Higashi Agatsuma-machi, Gunma
Important Cultural Property
Private Collection
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Masked Dogu
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Nakappara site, Chino-shi, Nagano
Important Cultural Property
Chino City Board of Education, Nagano
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Dogu with Goggles
Final Jomon period (1000-400 BC)
Kamegaoka site, Tsugaru-shi, Aomori
Important Cultural Property
Tokyo National Museum
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Clay and Stone Objects Associated with Dogu |
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Head of Dogu
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Shidanai site, Morioka-shi, Iwate
Important Cultural Property
Agency for Cultural Affairs |
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Clay Figure of Wild Boar
Late Jomon period (2000-1000 BC)
Tokoshinai site, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori
Hirosaki City Museum
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Dogu are ceramic figures made out of clay. During the New Stone Age period (8300-5000 B.C.) dogu were closely related with agriculture and developed as figures of an earth mother deity who was worshipped in prayer for rich harvests, production and fertility.
Japanese dogu appeared in the early days of the Jomon period (about 13,000 years ago) and developed most rapidly between the mid-Jomon period (3000-2000BC) and the final-phase Jomon period (1000-400 B.C.), during which many dogu with unique characteristics were created. The Jomon period economy was a hunter-gatherer economy and therefore Japanese dogu have different features to ancient European or West Asian ritual figures.
What was the purpose of dogu and how were they used? There are many theories about Jomon dogu.
The figures' large breasts and hips represent the concept of reproduction and creation rooted in the mystery of human birth. They can also be understood to represent the wish for safe delivery of newborns. There is also a theory that dogu are a dynamic representation of rich hunter's bounty.
On the other hand, as most dogu are found destroyed it is also said that dogu were used as avatars for curing disease and injury.
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