Haniwa

haniwa on stamps
Haniwa are: Iconic, fetishistic, historical, cultural, funerary, sublime, honorific, symbolic, representational, and just plain neat.

Introduction
Images
Modern
Events
Sources
History
Miscellaneous
Museums
Types
Tumuli

Exciting News!

The Japan Society of New York will host a talk by Victor Harris, on William Gowland: The Father of Japanese Archaeology?.
They are also presenting an exhibit, Japanese Treasures from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, through July 9.

"The Kofun, or Tumulus, period (c. A.D. 300-c. A.D. 500) is named for the mound-covered tombs of clan chieftains built during these centuries, which saw the gradual consolidation of central authority. Artifacts from these tombs, including armor and a variety of ornamental objects, reflect close contact with the Korean Peninsula during the period. The tombs were bordered by clay cylinders called haniwa, which were often mounted by simple but expressive clay sculptures, most notably human and animal forms."

Chronology of Japan's Fine Arts.

Japan: A Pocket Guide, 1996 Edition (Foreign Press Center)

At the two earliest known burial mounds, Chausuyama and Hiwasushime no Mikota , haniwa were found near the summit of the mound. Thus, haniwa are a distinctive element of the Tumulus Period. Tumuli were built throughout the entire are which is now Japan; haniwa have been found on all except those in the Northernmost areas.
The earliest forms were simple cylinders. Later, military implements, animals, and humans were represented (see my list of types). All of the forms have a charming simplicity. In part, this was due to the practical nature of the craft: after an important person died, many of these sculptures were needed before the burial ceremony. Also, they were intended to be seen from a distance. Still, haniwa have revealed many important details about life during this period.
The Kofun era faded out with the introduction of Buddhism. Bodies were cremated and no longer buried, and Buddhist priests wanted to re-direct the enormous resources from tomb-building into temple-building.

Images on the Internet

The following pictures were taken at an Archeology Museum by Dave(c).

Group of 3
Group of 2
I think the one on the left is an Important Cultural Property, a warrior clad in armor for fighting on horseback, from Gunma Prefecture.
Warrior and horse.

Elsewhere on the web:

A picture of a great Haniwa Warrior.
Burial mounds of the Kofun period
Seated Woman
Male Haniwa Figurine at the Kyoto National Museum.
Cultural assets from Ishikawa prefecture.

Haniwa in the Modern World

Do the twist.

by N. Hirai

Haniwa dancing with a Dogu

by Kenichi Kourai

FYI: Dogu are the earliest form of clay sculpture in Japan. Here is a Dogu figurine from c. 2000 BCE, the Jomon Period.

Since I don't read Japanese, I have no idea what's going on here.

Koala's Haniwa Cartoon page

You can dress them up, but ...

More cartoons

by Toshiyuki Hayashi

And from "Japanese Traditional course: C"

author unknown

Some crazy kids creating Shiva Haniwa.

An influence on sculptor Isamo Noguchi.

Age of Empires Heaven is a (computer?) game involving Haniwa-era Japan.

Composer and performer Daisaku was in a band named the Haniwa All Stars. with Kiyohiko Semba, and many others.

Events

Several Japanese cities have Haniwa Festivals in November.
Note: Contributions to the 'Send Darin to the Haniwa Festival' Fund can be made in any amount. Contact me for more details.

Museums

The following museums just might have some Haniwa for you to see.

Haniwa Museum: Shibayama Park; Shibayama, Chiba prefecture, Japan; Holds a Haniwa Festival in November.; See the tour.
Archaeological Museum: Kokugakuin Malkovich University; Shibuya, Tokyo.; Dave says "You can read about it in Susan Pompian's great book, Tokyo for Free, > 1998, Kodansha. (Don't miss the Meguro Parasitological Museum)."
Haniwa Garden: Heiwadai Park; Miyazaki, Japan; Alexandre Scalzitti's Homepage shows him enjoying the Haniwa Garden.
Peabody Essex Museum: Japanese Arts: haniwa from the Morse collection
of the Peabody Essex museum
Peabody Essex Museum
East India Square
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
1-800-745-4054
Brooklyn Museum of Art: 200 Eastern Parkway,; Brooklyn, New York, 1; 1238-6052,; Tel: (718) 638-5000, Fax: (718) 638-3731,; E-MAIL: bklynmus@echonyc.com; Haniwa Figure of a Shamaness
American Museum of Natural History: Central Park West at 79th Street; New York, NY 10024-5192; 212-769-5100.; Has a small window in the Asian Peoples section, showing sample haniwa, and a miniature of a burial site. Not very well done, I'm sad to say.
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco,: Golden Gate Park; San Francisco, California


Sackler/Freer Gallerys , Smithsonian Institute
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery: 1050 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20560
Freer Gallery of Art: Jefferson Drive at 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20560

Asian Collection:Japan from the Johnson Museum of Art,: at Cornell University; in Ithaca, NY

Historical Context

The time before Buddhism ( 552 A.D. or 538 A.D., the year that a messenger from Korea brought Buddhist teachings to the Emperor ) can be divided into three eras:
Jomon Period : 4500 B.C (?) -- 250 B. C.
The Stone Age people of Japan. Named for their pottery, which had a characteristic impression of rope.

Yayoi Period : 250 B. C. -- 250 A. D
Influx of ideas and people from the mainland (China, Mongolia, Korea). Rice cultivation, ceramics, politics.

Kofun period : 250 A. D. Burial mounds (Kofun, Tumuli) for Emporers and clan chieftans. Haniwa. Consolidation of tribes and clans. This period is also called "The Yamato Period" (in Schauwecker's Guide , anyway), which refers to the area which was the base of power during unification. The Yamato area is in present-day Nara prefecture, also known as the Kinai, Kansai, or Kinki area. (are you confused yet?).

See also:: Japan prehistory, from the Web Museum; NTIEVA - Japan - haniwa; Yayoi & Jomon; Timetable, in French; their dates seem to be un-adjusted.; Another timetableIn English. More accurate but briefer.; RESOURCES FOR ASIAN ARCHAEOLOGY

haniwa-related links

The connection with taiko.: Ochi, Megumi. 1997.; "What The Haniwa Have To Say About Taiko's Roots: The History Of Taiko. "; Transcript of plenary speech given at the 1997 Taiko Conference in Los Angeles.
Web sites in japanese:: KOZIN:HANIWA, has a Haniwa cartoon, and some other stuff. you tell me.; Manual for something called haniwa-net .; Homepage for Tokimeita Heya, who goes by the name 'Haniwa'.; Someone elsewho goes by the name 'Haniwa'.

The Internet domain 'haniwa.com' is already taken. It was formerly owned by the Asian Archaeology Information Plaza

Now its Koala's all-japanese web site! .
But maybe someday I can get 'haniwa.org' for my very own!

I think this has to do with one of those D&D type games;

Both versions of Gaki Zostu include this paragraph: "It is well known that haniwa repels those from under the sea [...] and the lost claws of Korr Neha, the stone bird, slew the beings down the gods [...] but the Dragon of Cold were frightened because Chu had the dragon's head." [This means that haniwa protects from the Deep Ones (the sons of Dagon and Hydra), the stone claws from all minor servant race and dragon's head from Shantaks].
Chaosium Digest Volume 10, Number 1

Haniwa

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