Dogu: Objects of Prayer in the Jomon Period
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Clay Figurine (Dogū)
Found in Kawane-Honchō Town, Shizuoka,Jōmon period, 1000–400 BCJapanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
March 2, 2021 (Tue) - September 5, 2021 (Sun)The most prominent objects of prayer from the Jomon period (ca. 11,000 BC–ca. 5th century BC) are dogu clay figurines. Even the earliest examples of these figurines have breasts, which suggests that they represent women, and their protruding bellies probably symbolize pregnancy. Therefore, it is believed that dogu figurines were created to pray for easy delivery of children, the birth of many children, and fertility.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Important Cultural Property | Clay Figurine ("Dogū") with Goggle-Like Eyes | Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori | Jomon period, 1000-400 BC | J-38392 | On exhibit from July 27, 2021 | ||
| Highlight | TClay Figurine ("Dogū") with a Mountain-Shaped Head | Found at Tatsugi Shell Mound, Ibaraki | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | Gift of Mr. Ebihara Shintaro, J-1577 | |||
| Important Cultural Property | "Dogu" (Clay figurine), With goggle-shaped eyes | Found in Ōsaki City, Miyagi | Jomon period, 1,000-400 BC | J-38304 | |||
| Important Cultural Property | Clay Mask | Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori | Jomon period, 1000-400 BC | J-36874 | On exhibit from June 1, 2021 | ||
| Highlight | Clay Mask | Found in Hanyū City, Saitama | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | J-38330 | |||
| Highlight | Stone Figurine ("Gangū") | Found in Nanbu Town, Aomori | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | J-37266 |