Prehistoric+and+Proto-historical+Japan

The Jomon culture is the earliest period in Japan, and the society was non-agricultural. The Jomon culture's methods of survival were based on hunting and gathering, and fishing as well. This culture also produced ceramic vessels, which are known to be the oldest ceramics in the world. The earliest Jomon pottery consisted of cone-like vessels that could not stand alone on a level surface without support. These vessels were possibly hooked on something over a fire in order to heat liquids. Other speculations are that these vessels were placed into the ground. The Jomon hand-crafted vessels had natural characteristics and were not glazed. The vessels were decorated with a simple chord design. A chord or rope was impressed into wet clay to make docorative impressions onto the vessels. The vessels found from this period are among the oldest.
 * __Jomon Culture (10,500 - 400 BCE)__**


 * Jomon Pottery (14,000-8000 BC), © 2004 Wikipedia **

__**Middle Jomon Period**__ This perios began to produce more elaborate vessels that were larger. The vessels were decorated by impressing a basket or other 3-dimensional texture into wet clay. The lids of the vessels became more elaborate. The base of these vessels were flat and able to stand alone on a level surface. These ceramics were made by hand, and were not very finctional. Therefore, there are speculations that the Jomon vessels were used for ceremonial purposes. Jomon vessels were never found in tombs or burial sites. The Jomon culture had a respect for natural, unadorned materials. The Jomon culture did not attempt to cover the raw materials with glaze or paint. Natural materials are associated with nature spirits.

**Middle Jomon Vessel (5,000 BCE), © artsmia.org**

__Ceramic Figurines (dogu)__ Around the late Jomon period, ceramic figurines were made by the Jomon called d//ogu//. The limbs of the figurines were intentionally borken and then buried. There are speculations that this could be a form of voodoo on enemies of the Jomon. The fugurines are represented as human or animal figures. The human figures had no male genetalia and have small breasts. The eyes of the figurines are large and wide similar to goggles. Some of the dogu are intricately carved to show their importance.

**//Dogu,// Jomon Period (1000-400B.C)** © 2004-2008 Tokyo National Museum

© 2004-2008 Tokyo National Museum **
 * Dogu, Jomon Period (3000-2000 B.C.),

__Stone circles__ Large monuments constructed with stone circles were created in the late Jomon period. These large monuments were about 150ft in diameter with one central vertical rock encircled by a cluster of rocks. The stone circles were possibly used as an astronomical device to record the seasons. There are other speculations that these stone circles were used to mark a sacred worship spot.

__**Yayoi Period (300BCE - 300CE)**__ The Yayoi period marks the beginning of the bronze age in Japan. There was also evidence of agriculture and imported metals from Korea in this period. There was also a new form of technology for producing vessels that were made on a potter's wheel, which provided a smooth surface.

__Yayoi Jar__ This Yayoi ceramic vessel was made on a potter's wheel, as opposed to the Jomon culture that made their vessels by hand. Like the Jomon vessels, this vessel was not glazed or painted. It has a raw surface with symmertrical balance and primarily smooth with an inscribed pattern.


 * Yayoi Jar (1-3rd century), © 2004 Wikipedia **

__Pedestal (stand)__ The Yayoi culture also made vessels that were used as pedestals to support ceramic jars. The pedestals were hollow and resembled a small pillar.

__Bell-Shaped Bronzes (dotaku)__ The Yayoi culture crafted bronze ceremonial bells call //dotaku.// The wet wax method was used to cast the bells. The vessels were very thin and hollow like a tin can. The dotaku acted as chimes, because one has to strike the bells in order to hear their sounds. The dotaku were not very functional, because they produced a low sound. The bells have symbolic and political connotations. These bells were modeled after bells from China through Korea. The Dotaku were found individually and ranged in different shapes and sizes. There are specualtions that these bells could have possibly been placed on the tops of trees, because of their hollow structure. There are also figurative images on the dotaku, which represent animals and people.

Dotaku (bell-shaped bronze), Yayoi Period, 2nd-1st century B.C. © 2004-2008 Tokyo National Museum

Dotaku (bell-shaped bronze), Yayoi Period, 1st -3rd century © 2004-2008 Tokyo National Museum


 * __Photograph Sources:__**

Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:JomonPottery.JPG

Minneapolis Institute of Arts, http://www.artsmia.org/mia/e_images/03/mia_3298e.jpg

Tokyo National Museum, http://www.tnm.jp/gallery/search/images/500/C0043248.jpg

Tokyo National Museum, http://www.tnm.jp/gallery/search/images/500/C0043228.jpg

Wikipedia, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/YayoiJar.JPG

Tokyo National Museum, http://www.tnm.jp/gallery/search/images/500/C0023933.jpg

Tokyo National Museum, http://www.tnm.jp/gallery/search/images/500/C0009476.jpg