Dogū: Objects of Prayer in the Jomon Period

Figurine (Dogū) with Goggle-Like Eyes
Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori, Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC (Important Cultural Property)

Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 8, 2026 (Tue) - March 14, 2027 (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.

Major Work(s) on Exhibit 6 results

	Designation	Name	Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance	Period	Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number	CMT
Highlight	Important Cultural Property	Figurine (Dogū) with Goggle-Like Eyes	Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori	Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC	J-38392
Highlight		Figurine (Dogū)	Found at the Hanawadai Shell Mound, Ibaraki	Jōmon period, 7000–4000 BC	Gift of Ms. Noguchi Kane, J-37525
Highlight		Figurine (Dogū) Shaped Like a Water Sprite	Found in Itoigawa City, Niigata	Jōmon period, 3000–2000 BC	Gift of Ms. Hayashi Katsuko, J-34374
Highlight		Figurine (Dogū) with a Cylindrical Body	Found at the Inariyama Shell Mound, Kanagawa	Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC	Private collection
	Important Cultural Property	Mask	Found in Tsugaru City, Aomori	Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC	J-36874
Highlight		Figurine	Found in an unknown location	Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC	J-36867

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