The Power of Dogu:
Ceramic figures from ancient Japan
Sponsored by Mitsubishi Corporation
10 September – 22 November 2009
Room 91
Admission free
Dogū, abstract clay figures with recognizably
human or animal features, have a fascinating history in Japan,
dating back thousands of years. These enigmatic figures have long
captured the imagination of antiquarians, archaeologists and the
public alike. They provide a tantalising link to the mysterious yet
remarkable Jōmon period (about 12,500-300BC) of Japanese
history.
The exhibition will feature sixty-seven of
these extraordinary objects, lent by many different public and
private collections in Japan. Three have been designated National
Treasures of Japan, including the so-called ‘Venus’ from
Tanabatake, Nagano prefecture and Dogūwith
palms pressed together from Aomori prefecture, designated by
the Japanese government in 2009. An additional twenty-five
examples rank as Important Cultural Properties and Important Art
Objects. This will be the first time that such a wide range of the
finest dogū have been brought together in a single exhibition. The
exhibition is co-organised with the Agency for Cultural Affairs,
Japan, in collaboration with the Tokyo National Museum.
Dogū evolved within the earliest dated
continuous tradition of pottery manufacture in the world,
stretching back to about 12,500 BC. They were produced by the Jōmon
people, prehistoric foragers in the temperate forests that covered
the Japanese archipelago. Jōmon people lived in tune with the
seasons, and shared their rich natural world with the spirits.
Since the Edo period (1615–1868) dogū have been excavated from many
sites throughout Japan, the best examples coming from central and
eastern regions -- from where most of the current exhibits are
drawn. More than 1,000 dogū have been recovered from each of two
major sites, Shakadō in Yamanashi prefecture and Sannai Maruyama in
Aomori prefecture mostly in fragments. Nationwide, the total
reported to date is about 18,000.
Dogū are made from high quality pottery and
come in a variety of shapes featuring intriguing decoration and
geometric designs. The techniques include modelling, clay appliqué,
marking with twisted plant fibres (jōmon
means ‘cord-marked’) and burnishing. One of the largest complete
figures in the exhibition, from Chobonaino, Hokkaido is some 42cm
high. However fragments have also been found of much larger
examples that must originally have been over one metre in height;
such is the head from Shidanai, Iwate prefecture. In addition to
their often elaborate decoration, some dogū were painted --
typically with red pigments -- or covered in lacquer. They can take
intriguing forms, with heart-shaped faces or triangular pointed
heads. Some squat, perhaps in childbirth, others appear to be
praying, still others apparently wear masks, such as the
magnificent Hollow masked dogū discovered in 2000
in Nagano prefecture. Many dogū have recognisably female
characteristics, while others appear less gender-specific. They may
be hollow or made of solid clay.
There is much debate about what dogū meant to
Jōmon people and how they were used, particularly because many seem
to have been deliberately broken before scattering or burial. In
fact, dogū probably fulfilled a range of uses: as embodiments of
spirits, venerated and revered; sometimes buried with the deceased
to guide them to the next world; and most often fragmented during
or after their use in Jōmon rituals. Such rituals were perhaps
intended to secure safe childbirth, or ensure a successful
hunt.
In the twentieth century, dogū served as a
potent source of artistic inspiration, and in recent decades they
have even featured in manga comics and Playstation games. It is
testimony to the power of dogū that they can serve, simultaneously,
as symbols of prehistoric Japan; entrancing works of art; and
protagonists in contemporary culture.
The exhibition is sponsored by Mitsubishi
Corporation.
Additional support has been given by the Arts
and Humanities Research Council of the UK, the Japan Foundation,
and the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and
Cultures. Transportation support has been provided by Japan
Airlines (JAL).
A Japan-UK 150 event
For further information or images please
contact:
Hannah Boulton on 020 7323 8522 / hboulton@britishmuseum.org
or
Esme Wilson on 020 7323 8394 / ewilson@britishmuseum.org
Notes to editors:
- The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated book, edited by
Simon Kaner and published by British Museum Press.
- A free public symposium will be held at the British Museum on
Saturday 7 November 2009
- Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is Japan's largest general trading
company with over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80
countries worldwide. Together with its group companies, MC employs
a multinational workforce of approximately 60,000 people. MC has
long been engaged in business with customers around the world in
virtually every industry, including energy, metals, machinery,
chemicals, food and general merchandise.
- MC’s commitment to social responsibility is embodied in its
corporate philosophy and demonstrated through its extensive
programme of cultural, environmental and educational projects
worldwide. As part of this global commitment, Mitsubishi
Corporation announced a 10 year partnership with the British Museum
in January 2008 that sees it sponsoring the permanent galleries
dedicated to Japanese culture in the Museum. The Dogū exhibition is
an additional sponsorship for 2009. http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/
- What is JAPAN-UK 150? JAPAN UK 150, a series
of events in the UK organized to celebrate 150 years of friendship
between our two countries, runs from autumn 2008 until the end of
2009. It features a wide range of activities designed to encourage
exchange in such fields as culture, the arts, sport, education and
science. Why not take this opportunity to gain fascinating insights
into both traditional and contemporary aspects of Japan?