Jōmon Venus: Difference between revisions
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The {{nihongo|'''Jōmon Venus'''|縄文のビーナス|Jōmon no Bīnasu}} is a ''[[dogū]]'', a humanoid clay [[Venus figurine]] from the Middle [[Jōmon period]] (3,000–2,000 BC), discovered in 1986 in [[Chino, Nagano|Chino]], [[Nagano Prefecture]], Japan. It was designated a [[National Treasure (Japan)|National Treasure]] in 1995. |
The {{nihongo|'''Jōmon Venus'''|縄文のビーナス|Jōmon no Bīnasu}} is a ''[[dogū]]'', a humanoid clay [[Venus figurine]] from the Middle [[Jōmon period]] (3,000–2,000 BC), discovered in 1986 in [[Chino, Nagano|Chino]], [[Nagano Prefecture]], Japan. It was designated a [[National Treasure (Japan)|National Treasure]] in 1995. |
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In archaeology, "Venus figurine" is a general term for statuettes of female figures, and does not imply a connection to the ancient Roman goddess Venus. |
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== Description == |
== Description == |
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Revision as of 13:42, 1 January 2017
| Jōmon Venus | |
|---|---|
 Jōmon Venus | |
| Material | clay |
| Size | height: 27 cm (11 in) weight: 2.14 kg (4.7 lb)[1] |
| Created | ca. 3,000–2,000 BC |
| Period/culture | middle Jōmon period |
| Discovered | 1986 Tanabatake (棚畑) site, Yonezawa (米沢), Chino, Nagano |
| Present location | Togariishi Jōmon Archeological Museum, Chino, Nagano, Japan |
The Jōmon Venus (縄文のビーナス, Jōmon no Bīnasu) is a dogū, a humanoid clay Venus figurine from the Middle Jōmon period (3,000–2,000 BC), discovered in 1986 in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It was designated a National Treasure in 1995.
In archaeology, "Venus figurine" is a general term for statuettes of female figures, and does not imply a connection to the ancient Roman goddess Venus.
Description
The dogū excavated at Chino in 1986 is a clay statuette of ocher color, with a height of 27 cm (11 in) and a weight of 2.14 kg (4.7 lb).[2] Its shape is thought to resemble a pregnant woman: broad hips, a pronounced gluteal arch, prominent mammaries and an enlarged belly.[2] In contrast to the overwhelming majority of the 20,000 dogū found in Japan, which were fragmented, the Venus of Jōmon is complete and has all its limbs.[2] The clay from which it is made has been carefully polished and contains mica.[2]
History
The statuette known as the Jōmon Venus dates to the middle Jōmon period, 3,000–2,000 BC.[3] Since its discovery in 1986, it has been in the custody of the city of Chino in Nagano Prefecture. It is exhibited at the city's Togariishi Jōmon Archeological Museum.[1]
In 1986, archaeological excavations were organized before the construction of an industrial park in the town of Chino at the site of the former hamlet of Tanabatake, located at the foot of the southern slope of Mount Kirigamine in the Yatsugatake Mountains, about 140 km (87 mi) northwest of Tokyo.[3] This Tanabatake archaeological site (棚畑遺跡, Tanabateke Iseki) revealed the vestiges of a village of 149 houses, out of which 146 date from the middle Jōmon period. The pieces of obsidian discovered at the site indicate that this village was a prosperous trading center. Among the burial pits at the center of the excavation site, a clay figurine (dogū) representing a pregnant woman was found.[4] This figure received the name Tanabatake Venus and later: Jōmon Venus.[2]
National Treasure
In 1989, the Jōmon Venus acquired the status of Important Cultural Property. Then, on 15 June 1995, it was the first Jōmon-period artifact to be designated a National Treasure of Japan.[3][2] It was joined in this category in 2004 by the Masked Goddess, another dogū discovered in 2000 at the neighboring archaeological site of Nakappara (中ッ原) in Chino.[5] Both statuettes are exhibited at the Togariishi Jōmon Archeological Museum in Chino.
See also
- List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
- Japanese Prehistoric Art
- Jōmon pottery
References
- ^ a b "The « Dogu » (« Jomon no Venus ») [Clay Figurine (the Venus of Jomon)] of the Tanabatake site". Chino City Board of Education. 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2016..
- ^ a b c d e f "National Treasure « Dogu » part 1: « Jomon no Venus » (the Venus of Jomon)". www.city.chino.lg.jp. Chino City Board of Education. 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016..
- ^ a b c 土偶 [Dogū] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|script-title=: missing prefix (help). - ^ 棚畑遺跡 [Tanabatake archaeological site] (in Japanese). Chino city, Jōmon project. 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|script-title=: missing prefix (help). - ^ 土偶／長野県中ッ原遺跡出土 [Dogū: excavation of the Nakappara archaeological site in Nagano Prefecture]. Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|script-title=: missing prefix (help).