Ancient Art | Ca. 11,000 BC–7th century AD
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Heart-Shaped Horse Ornament, Found at the Kaibōzuka Tumulus, Osaka, Kofun period, 6th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 1
July 4, 2023 (Tue) - December 3, 2023 (Sun)Japan has some of the earliest pottery in the world, dating back about 13,000 years. It was created by the people of the Jōmon period (ca. 11,000–400 BC). These people built permanent settlements and relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering.
At the height of their culture, they made pottery with richly sculpted forms and figurines with distinctive shapes.
In the Yayoi period (ca. 4th century BC–first half of 3rd century AD), people from Northeast Asia (now China and Korea) immigrated to Japan. They brought knowledge of how to farm rice and make objects with bronze and iron. More food became available and people started making tools, weapons, and ritual objects with metal.
In the Kofun period (ca. second half of 3rd–7th century), regional rulers seized power and resources. They formed an early state and the imperial line became its central authority. These rulers had giant tomb mounds built for themselves, with clay sculptures placed outside and valuable objects buried inside to express the rulers’ authority even after death.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Spouted Vessel with Human Figure Ornaments | Found in Hokuto City, Hokkaido, Previously owned by Ochiai Haruhiko | Jōmon period,2000–1000 BC | J-37440 | ||
| Deep Vessel | Found in Ina City, Nagano | Jōmon period, 3000–2000 BC | Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Yorisada, J-12074 | ||||
| Highlight | Bronze Bell ("Dōtaku") | Found in Hidaka Town, Wakayama | Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century | J-9904 | |||
| Highlight | Tomb Sculpture ("Haniwa"): Warrior in "Keikō" Armor | Found at the Kamishiba Tumulus, Gunma | Kofun period, 6th century | J-20839-1 | |||
| Highlight | Heart-Shaped Horse Ornament | Found at the Kaibōzuka Tumulus, Osaka | Kofun period, 6th century | J-22879 |