The Wonder of Japanese Archaeology

Haniwa are clay figures made for ritual purposes in Japan, especially during the Kofun Period (3rd - 6th centuries). They are small, fragile figurines fashioned for burial with other funerary objects next to the body of the deceased. These heterogeneous sculptures take the form of people, animals, buildings, tools and weapons, offering vivid glimpses into primitive societies. For the first time in fifty years, the Tokyo National Museum is presenting a special exhibition on haniwa to mark the fifty-year anniversary of the addition to the collection of the precious Keikō Armored Warrior, one of the most finely crafted and well-preserved haniwa in existence.