National Treasure Beauty of Ancient Formative Art in Nagano

Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology

(Chino City, Nagano Prefecture)

【Dogū (土偶) 】is a clay figurine made in ancient time. People live in Jomon era (c. 14,000–300 BCE) express themselves in form of earthen wares more than any other eras. The creative shape designed 10,000 years ago attracts many people in this modern era.

Chino city, Nagano Prefecture, is located on high land in the middle of Suwa basin surrounded by high mountain ranges. I took a limited express train from Tokyo for two and half hours. Getting off the train at JR Chino Sation, there was a local bus for the Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology. 

The bus went through rice paddy field on a plateau at the foot of Mt. Yatsugatake. In the middle of green hill surrounded by woodland, the bus stopped in front of a one-story building. It is the museum that has two national treasures of Jomon clay figurines. It cannot be imagined it has national treasures from the appearance of a local museum. 

The area was flourished in Jomon era as obsidian was produced in the northern mountains. These black stones were carried in villages and processed into stone implements such as knives and arrowheads for their daily use and huntings. In these villages, clay figurines were also created. Many of them were discovered in pieces. However, the two of them called “the Jōmon Venus” and “the Masked Goddess” were discovered with almost perfectly shapes.

The Venus looks wearing a hat and has heart shaped mask with long-slit eye and pointed nose. The body has smooth skin and sparkles with mica. The arms open widely in right and left and does not have hands. The Masked Goddess looks like an extraterrestrial life. It wears an inverted triangle shaped mask. The body and arms were marked with voluted patterns as if it wears cloth. Both of them have baby bellies and ample lower bodies as they are fertility symbols.

What kind of life did the creator of these figurines live? What was on their minds when the artist created them? They never thought their works are displayed in clear cases and attract people after 10,0000 years.