Page 89 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

T OK Y O NA TIONAL MUSEUM  87

Tokyo National Museum: Heiseikan

Built in 1993 to commemorate the Crown Prince’s wedding,
the Heiseikan houses major temporary exhibitions and a
superb collection of Japanese archaeological artifacts. Its
modern facilities do full justice to the fascinating displays.
The first floor houses the Japan ese archaeology
gallery, with items from 10,000–7,000 BC
onward. The temporary exhibitions on
the second floor are of mainly – but not
only – Japanese art. Captions are in English
and Japanese.

. Haniwa Horse
Haniwa literally means “clay ring,”
and is used to describe earthenware
sculptures that were made for 4th-
to 7th-century tombs and were
thought to protect the dead. Many
forms have been found, including
First floor horses and other animals.

. Haniwa Male Figure
This haniwa is dressed as
a warrior. Other human
figures that have survived
include singers, dancers,
and farmers.
Second floor

Entrance

Key to Floor Plan
Archaeological exhibits
Temporary exhibitions
Honkan

Fukabachi Bowl
This large cooking pot is a fine
example of Jomon pottery, . Jomon Figures
which is among the oldest in The prehistoric Jomon period
the world. The curved, deep (14,500–300BC) produced Japan’s
sides allowed the fire to be built first pot tery, including dogu.
up around it, while the flattened This figurine is one of several
base ensured it could be balanced female figures characterized
when in the hearth. by bulging eyes.

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