Haniwa

Ancient figurines (i.e. Haniwa) surround Shoufutago Kofun in Gunma, Japan – 小二子古墳

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This is another kofun found within Omuro Park (大室公園) in Maebashi, Gunma.

Although it's small for a keyhole kofun (in Japanese 前方後円墳 Zenpōkōenfun) at 38m, the abundance and variety of haniwa (the statues) make this one of the better kofun I've seen. Yes the haniwa are replicas, but they are arranged in the kind of way that they would have been all those 1500 years ago. Very cool.

More info here :

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Q: What am I watching here ?

A: You are watching footage of a "kofun/古墳" – kofun are tombs in Japan that were created during the Kofun Period (roughly between the 3rd and 7th Century AD) – this era was preceded by the Jomon and Yayoi periods, and followed by Asuka, Nara and so on. These tombs were built as burial chambers for people from Japanese imperial families and other people of higher status in society during those days. The most well-known and generally largest tombs are found around Kyoto and Osaka, but they are found all over Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku etc., and even in other parts of Japan such as Shikoku and Kyushu. Figures vary greatly, but some sources state there are over 160000 thousand of these kofun in Japan. At times you will see haniwa on and around kofun – haniwa are terracotta figures which were made in various shapes, including being formed as people and animals.
Have a read of the the Wikipedia article for more information :

I also have a Facebook page where I post these videos. Feel free to contact me via that page if you want to connect regarding anything about kofun, particularly their promotion to tourists to Japan. Ideally I'd like to build a kofun appreciation community of sorts, but that is just a dream right now –

Art Around The World: Japan – Haniwa

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A Haniwa Model of a Horse from 6th-Century Japan

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This haniwa clay model of a horse from 6th-century Japan would have been buried in a tomb on ‘a very grand scale’, explains Japanese Art specialist Mark Hinton.

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The decoration and detailing suggest it would have been made for a ‘very high-ranking person’, with tombs for such people often being ‘similar in size to a football pitch’.

Haniwa of armoured warriors and horses of the 5th and 6th century A.D. indicate the military power of the ancestors of the imperial line, and show that the horse must have played a major role in the unification struggles and the rise of the Yamato clan.

Although archaeology tells us that there were wild horses in Japan long before the Kofun period when this was made, it is believed that they had never previously been domesticated. The contents of tombs attest that horses and riding accoutrements were brought to Japan from China and Korea around the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th century.

‘I think it is a very imposing and rather haunting creature,’ says Hinton of this impressive highlight from the Art of Japan sale on 8 December in London. ‘It gives us an insight into an extraordinary period in the pre-history of Japan.’

Haniwa Horse and Hokusai’s Ghosts (Ancient Art Podcast 34)

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Enchanted riders, ghostly horses, and tortured souls round out this Halloween edition of the Ancient Art Podcast. The Art Institute of Chicago's new Weston Wing of Japanese Art showcases wonderful works from Japanese prehistory through present day. We wrap our head around the 5th and 6th century earthenware haniwa tomb figures of Japan's Kofun era, including a particularly magnificent clay horse. An interesting passage from an ancient text reveals there's more than meets the eye to these figurines. We see what's at stake in some ghoulish Japanese ghost stories. And the haunting Edo period woodblock prints of the series "One Hundred Ghost Stories" (Hyaku Monogatari) by the master printmaker Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) contributes to the creepiness. Lastly, we put the nail in the coffin with a nod to modern horror cinema. Light some candles and snuggle up for our most horrific episode yet! Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at . Connect at and .

Points of Departure: Haniwa

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Points of Departure: Treasures of Japan from the Brooklyn Museum

March 7, 2014–June 8, 2014

"Haniwa"

Join Japan Society Gallery Director Miwako Tezuka as she guides viewers through time and space to explore Japanese art, culture, and history using works from Points of Departure: Treasures of Japan from the Brooklyn Museum as signposts along the way. For this journey you won't need a map, compass, or even a plane ticket! In this final installment, Dr. Tezuka examines two clay figurines known as haniwa. These two figures are almost 1,400 years old!

"A radically reorienting show…gives you a new way to navigate Japanese art." – The New York Times

Points of Departure: Treasures of Japan from the Brooklyn Museum is organized by Japan Society in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum.

Music: "Takeda no Komoriuta" performed by Yoko Reikano Kimura and Hikaru Tamaki

Featured Conservation Project: Haniwa in the Form of an Archer

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In our latest featured conservation project, we learn about the collaboration between conservator and exhibition production staff. Here Samantha Springer, assistant conservator of objects discusses the issues associated with presenting a sixth century Japanese sculpture with Philip Brutz, mountmaker. The two problem solve how the object will be mounted after the object has been treated.