Week Twelve: Ancient Art of Japan

     Hello everyone, and welcome to what I presume is my final post. In this one, I wanted to share something I've been particularly interested with in the past, and maybe something a bit unconventional. All of these artworks are prehistoric artifacts from Japan during the Jōmon Period, c. 14,000 to 300 BC. I wanted to explore these fascinating pieces, and look into what kinds of things these hunter-gathers crafted and potentially why. Due to the nature of these pieces, I won't be able to provide any specific artists, but I hope what I can provide proves enlightening. So, without further ado...

Fire-Flame Cooking Vessel

    This striking vessel is estimated to have been created during the Middle Jōmon period around 2,500 BC. It is known as a "fire-flame" vessel, or Kaen Doki (火炎土器), due to its resemblance to flames towards the top, though the true meaning of the designs is unknown. It is thought to have been used to cook with by placing the bottom into a hole in the ground that was heated with fire, with the "flame" portion sticking above the ground. This particular example is a bit too tall, about four inches. This is because during the reconstruction process, a different bottom was used. The bottoms of these kinds of vessels often fell apart due to the nature of their use, so the original bottom was likely gone by the time of discovery.

    I chose this one because fire-flame pottery is one of the most famous and striking examples of Jōmon era pottery available. The name Jōmon means "cord-marked' and refers to the decorative markings on earlier pottery made with cord or rope, so even the whole period is named after it. Personally, I love this piece. It's very unique and I love all the intricate patterns sculpted into the sides. The top part with the "flames" is exceptionally beautiful in the way that the curves and designs were sculpted and inlayed. It also goes to show something I've always loved, and that's the human nature to take something useful and make it look pretty for no other reason than we like it that way. I can't imagine there was any practical reason it was designed this way other than perhaps ritual purposes, and even then, it just goes to show we have always been creating things for more than just efficiency.

Ebisuda Dogū

    Dogū (土偶), meaning "earthen figure", are clay figurines made during the later parts of the Jōmon period. They often represent both humans and animals. Currently, it is unknown what their purpose actually was, but it's thought that they were used in types of spiritual rituals to ward off evil. This particular example was discovered at the Ebisuda site in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan, and is estimated to have been made between 1,000 and 400 BC, during the Final Jōmon period. This style is also known as "shakōkidogū" (遮光器土偶), meaning "snow goggles clay figure" and is characterized by its large, bulbous eyes that look like Inuit snow goggles.

    I chose this piece because alongside the pottery, Dogū are the most famous artifacts from the period. As for this specific one, it was mainly because it was complete. One of the most famous ones housed in the Tokyo National Museum has a leg missing, so I wanted to use this one. I really like the design of this little guy. It feels both ancient and futuristic. Like it can be both an ancient relic or a goofy robot. Besides that though, the designs sculpted on the piece are very intricate and detailed. And I like the particular effort spent on the crown of the head, which almost looks like something spraying out of it. It really stands out as a interesting and unique sculpture. And here's something for any of you video game fans: If both of these art works look somewhat familiar, Jōmon era pottery was a direct inspiration for the ancient Sheikah technology from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The Jōmon Venus

    I wanted to end on a fairly iconic image amongst prehistoric art, that being the Venus figurine. If you're not familiar with them, they are figures of women, usually clay or wood, with exaggerated features commonly associated with fertility. They have been found all over Europe and within Eurasia as well. While their true purpose is largely debated, theories range from fertility rituals to self portraits to depictions of a goddess. This one was discovered in the Nagano Prefecture in Japan, and has been estimated to have been created during the Middle Jōmon around 2,500 BC. It is thought to be a depiction of a pregnant woman specifically, due to the enlarged features and prominent belly. Something particularly special about this one is that it has remained intact and is not missing any limbs or extremities like the majority of Dogū.

    I chose this one because of two things. Firstly, I thing it's just a nice piece of prehistoric art. It was sculpted well and I like the detail added to the headpiece. And while the proportions are exaggerated, it was clearly crafted with careful symmetry in mind. The second reason is what it represents to me. It's shows a shared connection or similarity between people across time. That while we all have different ideas and live in different places, we are all human in the end with similar thought processes. Venus statues are one example of this, where figures that have similar looks, styles, or potential representations across the world are all made by people. People who, despite their differences, share a common idea. And it's discovering those connections that bridge gaps across the world or even time itself that makes me love history so much.

    I hope you all have enjoyed reading my thoughts, interpretations, and analyses this past semester. Despite some stressful last-minute entries, I enjoy myself in this class and I learned a lot. It is my hope that I could impart at least some fun facts on to you. And to all, I hope you have a nice holiday after finals.

References:

“Dogū.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog%C5%AB.

“Fire-Flame Cooking Vessel (Ka’en Doki): Cleveland Museum of Art.” Home, www.clevelandart.org/art/1984.68. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

“Jōmon Period.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_period.

“Jōmon Venus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_Venus.

“National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan.” E, emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?langId=en&webView=&content_base_id=100609&content_part_id=0&content_pict_id=0. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

“Venus Figurine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurine.