Dogū: Objects of Prayer in the Jomon Period
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Clay Figurine (Dogu) with Goggle-Like Eyes
Found in Ōsaki City, Miyagi, Jomon period, 1000-400 BC (Important Cultural Property)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 6, 2022 (Tue) - March 5, 2023 (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 | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Clay Figurine ("Dogū") with a Heart-Shaped Face | Found in Higashi Agatsuma Town, Gunma | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | Private collection | ||
| Important Cultural Property | Clay Figurine ("Dogū") with an Owl-Like Face | Found at Shinpukuji Shell Mound, Saitama | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | J-39223 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Clay Figurine ("Dogū") with Goggle-Like Eyes | Found in Ōsaki City, Miyagi | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | J-38304 | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Conch-Shaped Clay Object | Found at Uenoyama Site, Niigata | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | J-38390 | ||
| Important Cultural Property | Clay Tablet with a Child's Foot Impression | Found at Uenoyama Site, Niigata | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | J-38391 | |||
| Highlight | Clay Mask | Found in Matsumoto City, Nagano# | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Yorisada, J-17949 | |||
| Highlight | Stone Figurine | Found in Nanbu Town, Aomori | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | J-37266 |