Dogū: Objects of Prayer in the Jomon Period
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Clay Figurine (Dogū) with Goggle-Lie Eyes
Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori, Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC (Important Cultural Property)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 5, 2023 (Tue) - March 3, 2024 (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 Goggle-Like Eyes | Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | J-38392 | ||
| Important Cultural Property | Clay Figurine ("Dogū") with an Owl-Like Face | Found at the Shinpukuji Shell Mound, Saitama | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | J-39223 | |||
| Highlight | Clay Figurine ("Dogū") with a Cylindrical Body | Found at the Inariyama Shell Mound, Kanagawa | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | Private collection | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Conch-Shaped Clay Object | Found at the Uenoyama Site, Niigata | Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC | J-38390 | On exhibit from November 14, 2023 | |
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Clay Tablet | Found at Fukuda Shell Mound, Ibaraki | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | Gift of Mr. Inoue Tsuneichi and Mrs. Inoue Fumiko, J-38401 | ||
| Highlight | Stone Tablet | Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori | Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC | J-36837 |