The people of the Jomon period left behind a wide variety of artifacts, including clay figurines, stone rods, and ornaments. These artifacts reflect the rich spiritual world and religious beliefs of the Jomon people.
Basic Knowledge
Clay figurines are human figures made of clay, most of them female figures, and were made throughout the Jomon period. More than 15,000 have been unearthed. They are thought to have been used for rituals, magic, prayers for safe childbirth, and prayers for healing.
Representative clay figurines include the following:
・Shakoki Dogu: A representative Final-period figurine from the Kamegaoka Site in Aomori Prefecture, with eyes resembling snow goggles
・Gassho Dogu: A National Treasure from the Kazahari Site in Aomori Prefecture, showing a figure with its hands joined
・Jomon Venus: A National Treasure from the Tanabatake Site in Nagano Prefecture, depicting a full-figured woman
・Masked Goddess: A National Treasure from the Nakappara Site in Nagano Prefecture, depicting a figure wearing a mask
Many clay figurines have been discovered in a broken condition. It has been suggested that they may have been intentionally broken during rituals or as substitutes for sick people.
Clay figurines Mainly female figures, used for rituals and magic
Stone rods Stone objects shaped like male organs, associated with fertility worship
Ear ornaments (earplugs) Ornaments inserted into holes made in the ears
Magatama Ornaments made of jade and other materials, later developing into treasured objects
Tooth ablation Custom of removing teeth as a coming-of-age ritual
Flexed burial Burial with the legs bent, perhaps showing concern for the soul of the dead
Further Study (Background and Impact)
The center of Jomon religious beliefs is thought to have been animism, the belief that spirits dwell in all natural things. Spirits were believed to live in mountains, rivers, trees, rocks, and animals, and respect for them made coexistence with nature possible.
Because many clay figurines are female figures, it is thought that the Jomon people practiced worship of an earth mother goddess symbolizing fertility, abundant harvests, and life force. Figurines with emphasized pregnant bellies and figurines holding children have also been discovered.
Jomon people also practiced tooth ablation, the removal of specific teeth, as a coming-of-age ritual. They did not remove their teeth because of toothache; it was part of a rite of passage marking adulthood. In funerals, flexed burial, in which the legs were bent, was common. This is thought to have had a magical meaning intended to prevent the soul of the dead from returning. These spiritual beliefs influenced the religions of the later Yayoi and Kofun periods.
- Clay figurines = mainly female figures, used for rituals and magic; about 15,000 unearthed
- Shakoki Dogu (Kamegaoka, Aomori) = representative Final-period work
- National Treasure clay figurines include the Jomon Venus, Masked Goddess, and Gassho Dogu
- Stone rods = symbols of male organs, associated with fertility worship
- Animism = belief that spirits dwell in all things
- Earth mother goddess worship = praying for fertility through female figures
- Tooth ablation = coming-of-age ritual; flexed burial = Jomon funeral practice
Points of Caution (Easily Confused)
① “Clay figurines” from the Jomon period and “haniwa” from the Kofun period are different. Clay figurines are Jomon artifacts, mainly female figures; haniwa are Kofun-period objects in many forms, including people, horses, and houses. ② The purpose of clay figurines has not been confirmed; theories include magic, substitutes, and toys. ③ “Shakoki” refers to snow goggles that prevent snow blindness. It does not mean that the figurine is wearing glasses; its eyes merely resemble them. ④ Stone rods represent male organs, while clay figurines are mainly female figures. They are thought to have formed a pair associated with prayers for reproduction and fertility.
Practice
- State where and when the Shakoki Dogu was discovered.
- Give in kanji the belief thought to have been central to Jomon religious views.
- Briefly explain the meaning of tooth ablation and flexed burial.