LATE KOFUN PERIOD (6TH-7TH CENTURY)

Haniwa, "clay ring," take their name from the cylinders found in large tomb mounds as funerary objects for the Japanese elite families, beginning in the fourth century. Made of unglazed clay by the wazumi (coil and slab) technique, the tubular base of the hollowed pillar is sunk into the ground for stability. In the subsequent centuries, potters expanded the earthen cylinders into sculptures of humans, animals and household items. Harp player Haniwa is one of the rarest and only a handful of examples are known to exist. The eighth-century Kojiki (Chronicle of Japanese History and Mythology) records that the Japanese harp was an important musical instrument used for ritual ceremonies at the court. Armed warrior playing harp is regarded as a noble man, like the figure portrayed in the current example.